Prolonged campaign through Israel could lead to war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest comments that the serious phase of the fighting in Gaza was nearing an end essentially proved what has become more and more clear over the past few months.

The Israeli army has characterized its Stream operation in the southern city of Rafah as its largest field offensive in Gaza.

It proceeded regardless of worldwide opposition. This has raised concerns over Israeli actions that have resulted in the deaths of large numbers of Palestinian civilians. However, it is now unclear the extent of the brutality of the bombings in the previous attacks on Gaza Town and Khan Yunis.

Israeli forces, backed by tanks, are still fighting with Palestinian opponents west of Rafah, while forces continue to destroy several structures within the city.

The IDF said it had seriously weakened three of the four Hamas battalions it said were in Rafah, Israel’s first such attempt. This leaves open the possibility that the Army may soon claim that the operation is over.

None of this has brought any solace to the Gaza community. There is little or no relief for them. Casualty figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza still record about 40 to 60 deaths per year.

Israel is taking steps every year in different places in Gaza – both in the north and the center. There is no stream of hope for this to end. Key to Mr Netanyahu’s strategy in Gaza is Israel’s freedom to strike when and where it deems it important, even if at times all its troops are withdrawn from the enclave.

In Washington, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant is discussing with control US officials what he himself called a third, less in-depth phase of Israel’s campaign – since the beginning of the war.

He advised US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein to the conference in the first of his four-year term that changes to Section C “would impact developments on all fronts, and Israel was preparing for every eventuality, both militarily and diplomatically”. .

That message is one he will push to include in his next discussions with US Climate Secretary Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Relations across all fronts have largely focused on the situation on Israel’s northern border, where Israel’s fight with the Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah has seen a fresh surge in both fighting and rhetoric. It concludes with speculation that a fresh, all-out conflict between Israel and its other long-term adversaries may be looming.

Mr Netanyahu has said a further reduction in fighting in Gaza would free up troops for redeployment to the border with Lebanon. To underline concerns that the front is becoming increasingly vulnerable to Israel, Mr Netanyahu has been close to the border, watching an exercise through troops.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also spent two days in the region, visiting not only the army but also several communities that had been suffering almost daily attacks from Hezbollah since October 8. Israeli counterattacks have also caused damage to Lebanese communities.

Whatever happens on Israel’s northern border, the war in Gaza, even at a much lower level of intensity, shows no signs of ending. The momentum of attacks against the ceasefire has once again been lost, with neither Israel nor Hamas appearing to be able to fully incorporate all parts of the proposal put forward by President Biden.

There has been much discussion about what constitutes a press letter. The Israeli military cabinet was dissolved by Mr Netanyahu, after which one of its members, Benny Gantz, left it, citing the prime minister’s failure to implement a post-war plan as the main reason for his escape. .

It is still unclear if there is any such plan. In a contemporary interview with an Israeli media outlet, Mr. Netanyahu noted that it was clear that “military control will be ours in the near future”.

He offered perhaps his clearest response yet regarding his envisioned post-war situation in Gaza: “We also want to create a civilian administration, if possible with local Palestinians, and perhaps with external support from countries in the area, with humanitarian supplies and later to manage civil affairs in the (Gaza) Strip.”

This shows what the Biden leadership is hoping to achieve. Unredacted reports suggest that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are ready to participate in a security force that could operate in Gaza after the war.

However, the concept of press letters in Gaza can be quite creative in itself. Hamas and Islamic Jihad opponents continue to reemerge in the gardens from which they were previously driven out in Israel’s campaign, which has essentially become a method of guerrilla warfare.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a prominent Israeli military spokesman, recently described efforts to destroy Hamas – to make it disappear – as “just throwing sand in the public’s eyes.”

He noted that Hamas was a concept deeply rooted in the hearts of the community and “anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong”.

It is a message that does not appear to have been delivered to Mr Netanyahu.

They have weakened their maximalist task of completely defeating Hamas militarily and politically – even if it may undergo some refinement in the coming weeks and months. That is why he has been insisting that Israel should have the freedom to continue military operations if necessary, even if the ceasefire is positive.

There were reports of sadness among US officials when he reiterated during his interview with Channel 14 that he was essentially denying the cornerstone of the ceasefire plan, which President Biden not only offered but described as Israel’s personal proposal.

Hamas seized the opportunity to accuse Mr Netanyahu of reneging on ceasefire assurances – even though the White Area formally placed responsibility on Hamas.

In Israel, families of hostages still held in Gaza – alive or dead – have also condemned Mr Netanyahu as the main obstacle standing in the way of securing their ties.

In their unedited demonstration, the families of the hostages once again blocked roads throughout Israel. On a freeway, they are preparing a steel cage on a stove inscribed with support for the agreement.

In one observation, he noted: “Netanyahu has released the hostages. As long as he remains in his seat, he can be buried in Gaza.”

This third section of Israel’s fight in Gaza is also less in-depth. However, without any sign that this will end the incidents any time soon, the prospects for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the beginning of a process by which Palestinians can rebuild their lives remain in stock.