Israel is pressing deeper into Gaza with tanks and soldiers as its expanded ground operation in the enclave progresses. The bombing campaign continued, with Israeli forces so close to Gaza City that ground troops called in airstrikes on Hamas targets, The Washington Post reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stridently rejected calls for a cease-fire with Hamas, likening any such move to a “surrender to terrorists.” “This is a time for war,” he said. Responding to criticism of his leadership and his administration’s position on Israeli hostages taken by the militant group in the Oct. 7 attacks, Netanyahu said that fighting Hamas in Gaza is the best way to free them.
