After four months of war, Netanyahu insists on “complete victory” and targets southern Gaza

Four months into the war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas demands for a ceasefire in Gaza, despite mediation efforts led by the United States. Netanyahu claims the only solution is “complete victory” over the Palestinian Islamist group.

In a televised news conference, the Israeli leader said that accepting Hamas’s “illusive terms”, which include a 135-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages, would lead to “another massacre in Israel and a bigger tragedy for anyone.” Won’t do that.” Be ready to accept.”

Netanyahu also confirmed that Israeli Defense Forces had been ordered to launch an operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where there are hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

In response to calls from the US government and Secretary of State Antony Blinken this Wednesday, Netanyahu said that “at least four months” of additional fighting would be necessary before Hamas could be defeated and that “victory was within reach.”

International concern intensified over the possibility of an Israeli ground attack in Rafah. UN officials warned of the risk of “massive loss of life” and war crimes in the event of an attack,

Netanyahu, whose approval ratings have declined, ruled out any arrangement that would leave Hamas in partial or full control of Gaza, assuring that no part of the enclave would be “immune” from Israeli invasion. .

For his part, Blinken had earlier indicated there was still “much work to do” to resolve differences between Israel and Hamas following the group’s proposal to permanently end the fighting.

Although some mediators viewed Hamas’s proposal positively as a sign of readiness for future negotiations, Netanyahu insisted that the release of more than one hundred hostages held by Hamas would be achieved through continued military pressure on the group. It will happen.

Hamas’s three-phase ceasefire proposal

Israel had previously announced its refusal to withdraw its troops from Gaza or end the war until Hamas is eliminated. However, reports from the talks indicate that Hamas has adopted a new approach to its historic demand to end the war, and raised it as an issue for discussion in future talks rather than as a condition for a ceasefire.

According to the proposal document reviewed by Reuters news agency, the first 45-day phase included the release of all Israeli women held in Israeli prisons, men under the age of 19, and the elderly and sick in exchange for Palestinian women and children. During this phase, Israel will have to withdraw its troops from the densely populated areas of Gaza.

The implementation of the second phase will be subject to the conclusion of “indirect negotiations on the requirements necessary to end mutual military operations and return to complete peace”. At this stage, the remaining male hostages will be released and Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza. During the third phase, exchange of remains of the deceased will take place.

The plan emerged in response to an Israeli proposal for a six-week cessation of hostilities and the gradual release of about 130 Israelis still detained in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, the ceasefire was expected to increase the supply of food and other aid to the 2.3 million desperate civilians in Gaza who are facing shortages of food, water and medicine.

The Israeli military offensive in Gaza began when Hamas launched a cross-border attack into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

Hostage amid failed talks

On October 7, Israel informed the families of 31 people abducted and taken to Gaza that their loved ones had died. This follows statements by Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, indicating that Hamas was “generally positive” on the proposals demanding a halt to fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of more hostages. Have reacted.

The figure shows 31 deaths More than 20% of the 136 hostages remaining in Gaza, according to data collected by the Israeli military. The incident comes in the context of pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over its handling of the hostage crisis.

The revelations of the deaths of many of the remaining hostages could intensify scrutiny over the management of the Netanyahu government.

About half of those abducted during the attack were freed in a ceasefire hostage agreement last year. However, negotiations for a second agreement continued for weeks, without any result.

The conflict has been complicated by slow arrival of information about those captured on 7 October, with families informed that some thought to be alive have died.

Amidst the growing humanitarian crisis in Rafah enclave

According to the United Nations, the situation in Gaza has reached worrying levels and has become one of the worst humanitarian crises in a century. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, between 5 and 6 February, at least 107 Palestinians lost their lives, bringing the death toll to more than 27,000.

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, said that since January, the ability of humanitarian aid missions to reach people in need in Gaza has deteriorated. Of 61 planned missions in northern Gaza, only 10 were facilitated by Israel, while 34 were denied access.

According to the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), About 75% of Gaza’s population, which totals 2.3 million inhabitantsMore than half of whom are children, are displaced, most of them taking refuge at the Rafah crossing along the border with Egypt. In November, Israeli officials asked citizens to move to the south side of the enclave, saying it would be safer.

UNRWA, the main provider of humanitarian aid, has been deprived of funding after Israel alleged that its staff were involved in Hamas attacks. Several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, withdrew their funding, putting future funding at risk.

With at least half the buildings in Gaza damaged or destroyed and much of the medical infrastructure unusable, aid delivery becomes incredibly difficult. Even if humanitarian aid continues to flow uninterrupted, practical difficulties remain great, with it almost impossible to get food and medicine to the 1.9 million displaced people.

Despite the recent decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on Israel to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and services, it is becoming almost impossible to provide aid to those in need. An immediate and permanent ceasefire will be presented as the most effective solution to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening.

With Reuters, EFE, AP and local media