Update | Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas tunnels in Gaza ‘with or without a cease-fire’
Israel calls up 16,000 more reservists as Washington agrees to restock Israel’s dwindling supplies of ammunition, despite rising concerns over the death toll in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday the army would continue working to destroy tunnels used by Gaza militants for cross-border attacks with or without a ceasefire, after Israel mobilised 16,000 additional reservists to bolster forces fighting in Gaza
“Until now, we have destroyed dozens of terror tunnels and we are determined to finish this mission – with or without a ceasefire,” he said in a live address at the start of a cabinet meeting.
“So I will not accept any [truce] proposal that does not allow the IDF (army) to complete this work for the security of Israel’s citizens.”
Israel mobilised 16,000 additional reservists on Thursday to bolster forces fighting in Gaza as Washington gave its ally the go-ahead to raid stocks of emergency US weapons stored on Israeli soil.
The call-up, which raised the total number of Israeli reservists to 86,000, came shortly after Washington said it had agreed to restock Israel’s dwindling supplies of ammunition, despite rising concern over the death toll in Gaza, where more than 1,360 people have been killed.
Israel began its military offensive in Gaza on July 8 with the aim of stamping out persistent militant rocket fire on southern Israel, but expanded the operation by sending in ground troops on July 17 to destroy a sophisticated network of tunnels used by militants.