Calls for Israel to cease fire are untenable; it has the right to persecute the Hamas movement, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said.
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“I think asking Israel not to respond (to a Hamas attack) – or what you would describe as a ceasefire – I think that’s untenable. They have the right to go after these terrorists,” he said on Sky television News.
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On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters penetrated into the border areas in southern Israel.
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In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
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The number of victims in the Gaza Strip exceeded 6.5 thousand people, over 17 thousand were injured. In Israel, according to local authorities, more than 1.3 thousand people died. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
