Israel Launches Devastating Air Strikes on Gaza Amid Ceasefire and Hostage Release Negotiations
In a resumed fighting, Israel pounded Gaza with air raids early Thursday; in addition, the country conveyed a willingness to resume negotiations with Hamas for a cease-fire and exchange of hostages. This comes at a time when the war which began on October 21, does not seem to be coming to an end.
Two early morning raids in Gaza City by F-16 jets struck two targets, and Gaza’s civil defence agency said that the raids claimed the lives of 26 people, including 15 children. Mahmud Bassal, the agency’s spokesman noted that; one strike conveyed on a family home in the Al-Daraj area, which led to 16 people being killed while another in a mosque compound(s) killed 10 persons. The Israeli military has not spoken about these acts.
Explosive fighting persists in Gaza’s garish streets, particularly in Jabalia and Rafah, where Hamas and its proxy Islamic jihad have been raining mortars on the Israeli forces. The increase in conflict situations has seen more countries demand a halt to the attacks and ceasefire. On Wednesday, foreign ministers from three European countries officially recognised Palestine as a state, increasing the tensions between Israel and its Premier, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The week started with the International Criminal Court prosecutor asking for arrest warrants for war crimes against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, and three heads of Hamas. These actions were considered in Israel as provocative: Israel criticised the request of the ICC and called it “disgust” and the recognition of the state of Palestine – a “reward for terrorism.
Internationally he is also under pressure at home from the relatives of hostages held in Gaza, some of them his supporters. People have been picketing at his office chanting to be freed. An example of the worsening situation that female soldiers face in an armed conflict was revealed in a video that appeared in February, the footage depicts five captured Israeli women who suffered terrible conditions during their hostage-taking by the Palestinian armed formation.
Nevertheless, the office of Netanyahu said that the war cabinet has called on the Israeli delegation to pursue a process of finding a hostage exchange agreement. Earlier cease-fire negotiations that involved mediators like the US, Egypt and Qatari have been stalemate following Israel’s operation in Rafah.
Israel’s invasion of the last city in the Gaza Strip that has been entered by its ground forces in Rafah has been criticised internationally including the US. That is why questions on the safety of $1 have appeared. Palestinian refugees and the civil population forced to stay in the city equals 4 million. Saying the operation in Rafah was more discriminate than previously seen, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stressed the importance of watching what Israel does next.
In an interview with the parliamentary foreign affairs and defence committee, speaking as the nation’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi warned that the prospects seem uninspiring and mostly unaccomplished; the strategic goals in the war, including the hostage swap deal, dismantling of Hamas, and residents’ safety, have not been met.
This war, the bloodiest in the Gaza Strip to date, started just after the set November date following the Grande attack on 7 October 2012, which cost the lives of over 1,170 Israelis, most of whom were civilians. Islamic militants of Hamas also abducted 252 people, and 124 of them are still held in Gaza; 37 were reported dead. The retaliatory campaign by Israel has led to the protraction of the fatalities in Gaza with the latest estimate showing that not less than thirty-five thousand, eight hundred Palestinians, many female and children, have been killed by the Israeli aggressiveness, as stated by the ministry of health in Gaza.
Fightings in build-up areas are still ongoing in the northern Gaza region which comprises of Jabalia. Israeli troops mentioned demolishing tunnelling stations and exterminating enemies in a conflict situation in Rafah. But that exacerbates the humanitarian situation as Israel has blocked the strip which has left Gaza with barely any supplies to meet the needs of its 2. 4 million residents of the necessities like clean water, food, medical supplies and especially fuel.
Due to this, the inflows of aid have been even interrupted after the Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah border with Egypt. While some aid has been air-dropped and America has built a pier, desperate crowds immediately besieged many trucks.
The support for Palestinians has increased across the globe and protests for Palestinians have become the next student movement in universities. Israel was annoyed by the recognition of a Palestinian state by Ireland, Norway and Spain; this was proceeded by recalling Israeli envoys and reprimanding Ireland, Norway, and Spain’s ambassadors.
Most Western governments back the Palestinians for statehood through negotiations, not recognition. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris also spoke against the October 7 attack but insisted that the only solution that would put an end to the violence was the two-state solution.
