Israel advances with military strategy, weighing potential Gaza initiative
The ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have hit an impasse, with both parties seemingly at odds. While Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal, Israel remains non-committal, raising concerns about a potential escalation.
The proposed ceasefire, which involves a 60-day pause in hostilities and a phased release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, coupled with increased humanitarian aid, has been met with a lukewarm response from Israel. The Israeli government has yet to provide an official response, missing its own deadline and imposing new conditions such as the release of all Israeli captives [2][3].
Meanwhile, Israel is gearing up for a major military offensive focused on Gaza City, the largest population center in the Gaza Strip. According to reports, the offensive aims to disarm Hamas and assert Israeli security control over Gaza, potentially displacing approximately one million Palestinians towards the south of Gaza [2][4][5].
The Israeli Defense Forces have reportedly presented attack plans for the takeover of Gaza City, and the Israeli Army is said to be preparing to deploy at least 80,000 soldiers [6]. This decision, however, can be revised if a framework is presented that includes the release of all hostages and an end to the war under the conditions laid out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [7].
The stalemate in negotiations and the looming threat of military action have raised international concerns. The Israeli military leadership is facing increasing criticism for the Gaza war, with over 62,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, reportedly killed [8].
In the midst of this, the Israeli Security Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday [9]. The operational planning to take the city of Gaza continues, with the Israeli government also discussing the approval of controversial settlement building plans in the West Bank's E1 area [10].
Yarden Bibas, the only survivor of his family after being abducted, has been a victim of the ongoing conflict. His wife Shirin and their two young sons were allegedly murdered by the abductors in November 2023, according to Israel [11]. One of the Hamas fighters allegedly involved in the abduction of Yarden Bibas has been killed [12].
The Hamas's positive response to the ceasefire proposal submitted by Egypt and Qatar suggests a willingness to de-escalate the situation, primarily due to pressure from Egypt and Qatar to prevent Israel's planned takeover of the city of Gaza [13]. A new ceasefire proposal has been examined by the Israeli government, which was reportedly agreed to by Hamas [14].
The updated ceasefire proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff includes a 60-day ceasefire during which ten hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners [15]. As of now, there are still 50 hostages in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive [15].
The ball is now in Israel's court, according to Michael Milshtein, a former head of the Palestinian affairs department at Israel's military intelligence [6]. The fate of the ceasefire negotiations and the future of Gaza hang in the balance, as the world watches and hopes for a peaceful resolution.
References: 1. Al Jazeera 2. Haaretz 3. Reuters 4. The Times of Israel 5. CNN 6. The Jerusalem Post 7. The Guardian 8. Amnesty International 9. The New York Times 10. BBC News 11. Israel Hayom 12. Ynet News 13. Al Arabiya English 14. The Washington Post 15. AP News
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