Killed 13,000 'terrorists', among Palestinians: Netanyahu claims

Jerusalem: Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that its forces had killed at least 13,000 "terrorists" among the Palestinians they had killed during the five-month-long armed campaign in Gaza, Reuters reported.

Talking to a German newspaper, he said that extending Israel's offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza was a key move in defeating Hamas.

After the break out of war on October 7, around 31,000 civilians were killed in Gaza, and most of them were women and children. The war is alleged to be a retaliation to the Hamas intrusion into Israeli territory on the day that killed around 1,300 Israelis.

When the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza did reveal the individual counts of civilians and Hamas operatives, it confirmed that 72 per cent of the deaths were women and children. But it claimed that Netanyahu's count of killed Hamas operatives was dismissed by the rebel organisation, calling attempts to show "fake victories".

Netanyahu told the German paper that Israel is very near to victory. Once its forces hit Rafah, which would be in a matter of weeks, the intensive fighting will be over.

According to his claims, three-quarters of the Hamas forces had been destroyed, and Israel forces stopping now would only allow them to regroup, Bild, the German paper, reported.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Palestinians are preparing for the holly month of Ramadan, but the atmosphere is subdued, marked by increased measures by Israeli forces and the looming threat of conflict and hunger.

Israeli police have deployed thousands in the Old City of Jerusalem, particularly around the Al Aqsa mosque compound, anticipating large crowds.

This holy site, known as Temple Mount to Jews, has historically been a flashpoint for tensions and was a catalyst for the 2021 war.