Netanyahu says there is 'no way' Israel halts war in Gaza until Hamas is defeated
Tel Aviv, May 13 (AP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.
His comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region but skipping Israel.
They pointed to a potentially widening rift between Netanyahu and Trump, who had expressed hope that Monday's release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war.
In comments released by his office Tuesday from a visit to wounded soldiers the previous day, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were just days away from a promised escalation of force and would enter Gaza “with great strength to complete the mission. ... It means destroying Hamas.”
Any ceasefire deal reached would be temporary, the prime minister said. If Hamas were to say they would release more hostages, “we'll take them, and then we'll go in. But there will be no way we will stop the war,” Netanyahu said. “We can make a ceasefire for a certain period of time, but we're going to the end.”
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The dispute over whether to end the conflict has been the main obstacle in negotiations going back more than a year.
Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with as many as 23 of them said to be alive, although authorities have expressed concern about the condition of three of them.
Many of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the war were freed in ceasefire deals.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Govt working on integrated farming models
New Delhi (PTI): The government is working on having integrated farming models that will also be beneficial for small farmers, Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday.
Chouhan, who is in charge of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry, also mentioned about many crops being purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) from farmers.
The minister was responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Chouhan said the government has started work on having integrated farming models that would be helpful for small farmers also since the landholding with farmers is less in the country.
Generally, integrated farming models refers to bringing together different elements such as crops and livestock.
Meanwhile, the government is also taking various initiatives to promote alternative crops for tobacco farmers.
Chouhan said sugarcane and other crops are being used as alternatives to tobacco farming.
