Intensifies Military Campaign in Gaza: Israel's Decision to Expand Operations
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate, with the Israeli government deciding to intensify military operations in the coastal region. The focus of the operation will be exclusively on the city of Gaza in the north.
Israel currently controls about three-quarters of the largely destroyed coastal strip, where approximately two million Palestinians live. The goal is to evacuate the residents to refugee camps in the central part of the Gaza Strip by early October.
The security cabinet has endorsed a corresponding military operation, with the principles to end the war in the Gaza Strip including military control of the coastal region by Israel, complete disarmament of the Islamic Hamas, demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of an alternative civilian government.
However, ceasefire talks remain fragile and unresolved. The current status of negotiations between Israel and Hamas is stalled, with Israel rejecting recent ceasefire proposals, including a partial ceasefire suggested by US mediator Steve Witkoff. Israel insists on conditions such as the full release of all 50 hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarization of Gaza, which Hamas has not accepted.
Despite open channels and discussions conducted by Egyptian officials with Hamas representatives in Cairo to explore a possible partial 60-day ceasefire, Israel's hardened stance and demands have prevented progress. Hamas has expressed willingness to return to negotiations, but heavy Israeli aerial bombardments continue in Gaza City, signaling ongoing hostilities.
The potential escalation of fighting exacerbates the difficulties in negotiation. Israeli military preparations to occupy Gaza City and continued strong military operations following the collapse of negotiations indicate a volatile environment that undermines ceasefire prospects. Israel's refusal of multi-day humanitarian pauses, fearing Hamas’s tactical advantages, further complicates any de-escalation effort, despite limited four-hour safe evacuation pauses implemented in northern Gaza neighborhoods.
The UN and international aid organizations are warning of a potential famine in the Gaza Strip due to looting of aid supplies before distribution. The Gaza War, sparked by Hamas and other Islamic terrorist organizations' attack on Israel, has resulted in over 61,000 deaths, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority. Around 70% of houses in the Gaza Strip are destroyed or severely damaged, with higher percentages in Khan Yunis and parts of Rafah.
The mediator states of Qatar and Egypt are putting pressure on Hamas to return to the negotiating table. Netanyahu's plan is to hand over the Gaza Strip to "Arab forces" that do not call for the destruction of Israel. The United Nations has warned that further escalation of the fighting could have "catastrophic consequences" for millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Critics accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political reasons to satisfy his coalition partners. Netanyahu wants to take control of the entire Gaza Strip but does not want to permanently occupy it. Months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a new ceasefire and the release of more hostages have been unsuccessful.
The ongoing intense fighting, Israel's firm conditions, and interrupted diplomatic efforts mean ceasefire talks remain fragile and unresolved, with the rising hostilities likely diminishing the chances of immediate progress toward a ceasefire.
- The security operations in the Gaza Strip, initiated after the escalation of the conflict, are deeply rooted in politics and general news, as they involve war-and-conflicts, with the Israeli government aiming to establish military control and achieve complete disarmament of Islamic Hamas, ultimately leading to the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
- Despite ongoing ceasefire talks, the resurgence of fighting and Israel's strict conditions have hindered negotiations, casting doubts on the possibility of a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which is extensively covered in political news and general media discussions about war-and-conflicts.
