Higher a Hamas official said that the Islamist organization is now open to discussions for a possible truce with Israel, since it has “achieved its objectives”.

Musa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera in a telephone interview that Hamas is open to “something like this” and “all political dialogues” when asked if the Islamist group is willing to discuss a possible ceasefire.

On a completely different wavelength, was the chilling threat from the armed wing of Hamas, in the shadow of massive Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip.

“We will begin executing an Israeli prisoner for each new Israeli bombardment of civilian homes, without warning” threatened the representative of Hamas, Abu Obeyda, as reported by Reuters.

The Israeli prime minister, in his address to the people of Israel on Monday night, declared his determination to go through with the plan to “neutralize Hamas”, saying that “the retaliation has just begun” and that “very difficult and terrible” things are expected .

“Citizens of Israel, we are on the third day of this war. We are fighting for our home and for our existence”, emphasized Benjamin Netanyahu.

Over 300,000 reservists on standby for the ground operation

Israel has mobilized a record 300,000 reservists to be activated in a large-scale ground operation designed to respond to Hamas’ multi-pronged offensive from Gaza, Reuters reported.

Israeli warplanes are pounding Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip with increasing firepower, while ground forces retake territory seized from Hamas insurgents.

Chief military spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Hagari said control of those communities had been restored but that isolated clashes continued as some militants remained active.

“We are now conducting searches in all communities and clearing the area,” he said in a televised briefing.

Military officials have said their goal is to completely clear their territory of Hamas members before proceeding with the ground operation in the territory controlled by the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.