Israeli Defense Forces State Condition to Cancel Ground Operation in Gaza Strip

The ground operation in the Gaza Strip will be canceled if Hamas releases all hostages and surrenders unconditionally, said Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in an interview with Australia’s ABC radio.

“If Hamas comes out of their hiding places, hiding behind Israeli civilians as they are now, returns our hostages— all 212 of them—and surrenders unconditionally, then the war will end... If they don’t, we will probably do it,” Conricus stated.

At the same time, the spokesperson was unable to provide a clear answer to the host’s question about the Israeli Defense Forces' priority: the complete destruction of Hamas or the release of all hostages.

He also commented on pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place in many countries around the world, suggesting that people need to orient themselves and choose whom to support based solely on their own morality. “If you want to stand with terrorists and support them, that is your choice... If you can side with Hamas, then I think there is something wrong with your morality,” Conricus said.