Gaza Strip's DEIR AL-BALAH — In response to repeated requests from outside for an international cease-fire following an increase in civilian casualties, starvation, and widespread displacement in the beleaguered enclave, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday that his country's assault on Hamas in Gaza will go for "many more months." Netanyahu expressed gratitude to the Biden administration for its ongoing support, which included thwarting a resolution proposed by the U.N. Security Council that would have called for an instant cease-fire and approving a second emergency arms sale this month. The Biden administration supports Israel's claim that halting the battle now would mean triumph for Hamas, but it also encouraged Israel to take further action to protect Palestinian civilians.

Israeli jets launched more attacks on Saturday while ground troops advanced farther into the southern city of Khan Younis, hitting the urban refugee camps of Nuseirat and Bureij in the middle of the region. More than 21,600 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel's historic air and ground operations since the fatal Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, according to a statement released on Saturday by the Gaza Health Ministry. The government said that 165 Palestinians had died on the previous day, without making a distinction between fighters and civilians dead. It has been reported that women and children make up over 70% of those slain. After the IDF confirmed two additional deaths on Saturday, the total number of Israeli troops lost in the Gaza conflict now stands at 170.

Roughly 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million citizens have been forced from their homes by the conflict, prompting waves of civilians to seek safety in Israeli-designated locations that the IDF has targeted. Palestinians are left feeling that there is nowhere in the little safe area. The already packed city of Rafah, at the southern tip of Gaza, saw hundreds more Palestinians pour into it this week as Israeli soldiers increased their ground onslaught. Beside U.N. warehouses on the outskirts of Rafah, thousands of tents and improvised shacks have appeared. Arriving at Rafah on foot or in vehicles and carts filled to the brim with mattresses were the displaced people.

Those who could not find room in overcrowded shelters set up tents beside highways. "There is no water here. A displaced lady named Nour Daher spoke from the large tent camp on Saturday, saying, "We don't have enough food." "The children are hungry and thirsty when they get up in the morning. We searched for water for them for an hour. Flour could not be brought to them. It took us an hour to walk even when we needed to take them to the bathroom.

He was on the phone assisting in the search for four missing persons under the debris when he added, "The (Israeli) occupation is doing everything to force people to leave." They intend and will shatter our spirit, but they will not succeed. We intend to remain here. ADDITIONAL US ARMOUR FOR ISRAEL According to the State Department, on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Congress that he had authorized the sale of $147.5 million worth of fuses, charges, and primers—among the necessary supplies for Israel's previously purchased 155 mm shells.

This was the second time this month that the Biden administration has approved an emergency arms sale to Israel without consulting Congress. On December 9, Blinken made a similar choice, approving the transfer of around 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition valued at over $106 million to Israel. Both actions have been taken while Congress continues to debate U.S. immigration policy and border security, impeding President Joe Biden's proposal for a roughly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security requirements.

Legislators on the Democratic side have mentioned holding up the planned $14.3 billion in US aid to its friend in the Middle East unless Netanyahu's administration takes decisive action to lessen civilian losses in Gaza amid the conflict with Hamas. The timeline of the war Blinken, who has been to the Middle East several times throughout the conflict, was anticipated to return in January to Israel and other nations in the area. Although they stated they weren't setting a timeframe, U.S. officials have pushed Israel to begin transitioning from high-intensity fighting to more focused operations.

 According to Netanyahu, Israel needs more time. "The war will continue for many more months, as the chief of staff stated this week," he declared during a live press conference on Saturday. "I'm clear about my policy. We'll keep fighting until we've accomplished every goal set out in the conflict, chief among them being the destruction of Hamas and the liberation of all hostages. Following the capture of over 240 hostages by militants on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of almost 1,200 persons, the majority of whom were civilians, over 120 hostages are still held in Gaza.

The Biden administration and Netanyahu disagree on who should rule Gaza after the conflict. He has rejected the notion, supported by the United States, that a unified Palestinian administration should rule over both Gaza and portions of the West Bank under Israeli occupation as a step toward ultimate statehood. Rather, he has insisted on unrestricted Israeli security authority over Gaza, without specifying the next course of action.

TRADING FOR HOSTAGES

Families of hostages and their supporters have demanded that the government prioritize hostage releases over other war objectives, and have staged large protests every weekend, including Saturday. Egypt, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, has proposed a multistage plan that would kick off with a swap of hostages for prisoners, accompanied by a temporary cease-fire — along the lines of an exchange during a weeklong truce in November. Hamas insists the war must end before it will discuss hostage releases.

Senior Hamas figure in Beirut, Osama Hamdan, reaffirmed that stance on Saturday. However, he also informed The Associated Press that "we have not given any final answer so far" to the Egyptian proposal. When questioned on Saturday about rumors of potential progress toward an agreement, Netanyahu stated, "We see a possibility, maybe, for movement," but he was careful not to create "exaggerated expectations."