TEL AVIV, November 24. /TASS/. Israel will resume its operations after the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip until it exterminates Hamas and releases all the hostages, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said.

"There will be a short pause, after which we will continue to act with all our military might. We will not stop until we reach our goals: to eliminate Hamas and return 240 hostages from Gaza to Israel," the ministry’s press service quoted him as telling his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto.

"Now are critical hours because we are expecting the return of the first group of hostages, including children, to Israel," he said. "This is a very emotional time for the Israeli people."

The two ministers also discussed the situation on the border with Lebanon. "We are not interested in a war but we must contain our enemies," Galant said, adding that Israel will never be putting up with threats to its citizens.