Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Mossad spy agency to actively pursue and eliminate leaders of the Hamas group, even beyond the borders of Gaza.
The majority of Hamas's top officials currently reside in exile, with significant figures based in Qatar and Beirut. The Mossad, known for its involvement in overseas operations, has faced accusations of orchestrating assassinations of Palestinian fighters and Iranian nuclear scientists in the past.
As negotiations for a temporary truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers continue, Israel's National Security Adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced that the release of hostages will not occur before Friday.
The truce agreement, finalized recently, prompted Netanyahu to inform US President Joe Biden that Israel would persist in its conflict with Hamas post-ceasefire.
Netanyahu emphasized that the war is ongoing and pledged to pursue it until all of Israel's goals are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas and the release of the 240 hostages currently held by the group.