Beijing, China - February 24, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel is ready to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip at any time, after he delayed the release of Palestinian detainees scheduled to be finished on Saturday. Netanyahu said at a ceremony for combat officers that Israel has eliminated most of Hamas's organized armed forces in Gaza, and that Israel will fully achieve its war goals whether through negotiations or by other means. The Israeli military later issued a notice saying that it has stepped up alert and operational readiness in the border area near Gaza. Earlier on Sunday, Israel announced a delay in the release of 620 Palestinian detainees who were set to be freed under the truce agreement. Their release was part of the final phase of a hostage-prisoner exchange agreement after Hamas freed six Israeli hostages on Saturday. In a statement, Netanyahu's office claimed dissatisfaction with the handover ceremonies held by Hamas to free the hostages, saying that Israel has decided to delay the release of Palestinian detainees until Hamas stops "humiliating" ceremonies. Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas leader, responded that the Palestinian group will not engage in any further negotiations with Israel through mediators until Israel frees the 620 Palestinian prisoners. As recriminations over the deal intensified again, Israel on Sunday announced an expansion of military operations in the West Bank. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday ordered the military to prepare for a yearlong presence in refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, the Israeli military stated that it is deploying a tank division to Jenin. According to Israeli media, this marks the first time tanks have been sent to the West Bank since 2002. Rawhi Fattouh, the head of the Palestinian National Council, on Sunday condemned Israel's attacks on residential areas and unarmed civilians in the northern West Bank. He called on the international community to take immediate measures to put an end to this act of aggression and to hold Israel accountable for its continuing crimes. Hamas issued a statement on the same day, accusing Israel of ordering an expansion of military operations in the northern West Bank. It said that this reveals Israel's dangerous intention to wage a genocidal war against the Palestinian people, and called on all Palestinian factions and all people in the West Bank to form a united front to strengthen resistance and prevent the Israeli army from committing more crimes. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 2023 has risen to 48,339, with the number of injuries climbing to 111,753, according to a statement released by Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Feb 24, 2025: FILE: Jerusalem - Jan 17, 2025 1. Various of Prime Minister's Office, Israeli national flags; Beijing, China - Feb 24, 2025 2. Screenshot of statement by Israel Prime Minister's Office; Rafah, Gaza Strip - Feb 22, 2025 3. Hostages handover ceremony in progress; 4. Residents gathered at handover ceremony; 5. Various of hostage accompanied by armed personnel; Nuseirat, Gaza strip - Feb 22, 2025 6. Various of handover ceremony in progress, people at ceremony; FILE: Jenin, West Bank - Jan 22, 2025 7. Various of Israeli military vehicles, bulldozers; FILE: Rafah, Gaza Strip - Jan 23, 2025 8. Aerial shots of flattened buildings; Netzarim Corridor, Gaza Strip - Feb 9, 2025 9. Displaced Palestinians walking amid destroyed buildings; 10. Destroyed buildings. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]