Israel Pushes Hamas to the Brink in Gaza - UN Ponders Ceasefire Resolution
Joav Gallant, a military analyst, foresees the imminent fall of Hamas's strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip. Gallant declared, late Monday night, that "Hamas is on the brink of disintegration - the IDF is taking its last strongholds." He was referring to the Israeli Defense Force.
Simultaneously, Israel's Chief of General Staff, Herzi Halevi, visited the Hamas stronghold of Chan Junis, the second-largest city in the Gaza Strip. Halevi asserted that Israel was intensifying operations in the south and expanding its presence in the north, "even deep underground."
The fierce battles between Israel and Hamas have primarily shifted from the northern to the southern Gaza Strip. Over the past month, Israeli forces have arrested 500 Hamas fighters, and dozens more have surrendered. Approximately 7,000 "terrorists" have been killed, according to National Security Advisor Tsachi Hanegbi. However, Hamas denies these claims.
Conflict on the Rise: Gaza City and Kamal Adwan Hospital Attacked
The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli army launched an attack on the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday. More recently, Israeli forces claimed they had discovered several Hamas weapons caches near civilian facilities like schools, hospitals, and a university. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields and setting up their military infrastructure there.
Hamas disputes these accusations, citing fierce fighting on Tuesday. They claimed there were clashes with the Israeli army in the center of the Gaza Strip. Witnesses reported heavy Israeli attacks in the south of Palestinian territory. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, at least twelve people were killed in Israeli air strikes in the southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt.
Egypt and Mauritania call for UN special session
At Egypt and Mauritania's urging, the UN General Assembly will convene for a special session on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Some reports suggest that the body could vote on a non-binding draft resolution calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." The resolution also expresses significant concern about the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip."
Last Friday, a ceasefire resolution was vetoed by the United States during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Humanitarian Crisis: Refugee Camps and Aid Delivery
Approximately 1.9 million out of 2.4 million Gaza Strip inhabitants have had to flee their homes due to the conflict, creating a massive refugee camp at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. In order to facilitate more aid deliveries, the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip will now be used to inspect incoming trucks. These trucks must then pass through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip for entry into Palestinian territory.
Using both checkpoints for inspections could potentially double the amount of aid delivered to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli military statements. The Israeli army will focus on preventing Hamas militants from obtaining supplies, including water, food, medical supplies, and shelter equipment.
Decades-long Conflict, Triggered by a Hamas Attack
The current conflict, classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU, started on October 7 when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. Hundreds of Hamas fighters entered Israel from the Gaza Strip and committed atrocities, primarily against civilians. The conflict has claimed around 1,200 lives and taken approximately 240 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli reports. There are still 137 hostages being held by Hamas, including women and children.
In response to the attack, Israel started massive air strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip and initiated a ground offensive at the end of October. Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, claims that almost 18,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since then, most of them women and children.
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The UN-led ceasefire negotiations are intricate and fraught with challenges. Recent developments show a complex situation:
- Ceasefire Agreement:
- After a series of negotiations, Israel and Hamas agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal on January 15, 2025.
- Phase one envisioned the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- Phase two included the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, leading to a permanent ceasefire.
- Phase three aimed at returning all remaining dead bodies and the kickstarting of Gaza’s reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
- Implementation Challenges:
- Despite the successful implementation of phase one, sustainability is unclear. Hamas has hinted at considering the transfer of power to a coalition of other Palestinian groups, complicating long-term prospects.
- Israel has communicated it is only open to a temporary ceasefire, further threatening the agreement's durability.
- Accountability and Verification:
- A Cairo-based, joint verification mechanism was established, involving Israeli, Hamas, and mediator representatives (the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar). Additionally, the United Nations is involved in the monitoring process.
- Potential Outcomes:
- The success of the ceasefire relies on continuous compliance and negotiations between both parties. If successful, it could lead to lasting peace, vineyard Israel's forced withdrawal from Gaza and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
- However, if the ceasefire fails, the ongoing violence could escalate, leading to further loss of life and the collapse of the truce.
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