Israel initiates a fresh military campaign in Gaza, intensifying its assault following mass casualties in the past few days.
3-Minute Read: The Israel Defense Forces have escalated their military operation in Gaza, causing hundreds of fatalities in recent days. Under the banner of "Operation Gideon's Chariots," Israel initiated massive attacks on the Gaza Strip and deployed troops to take control of specific areas. The intended objectives of this offensive include hostage releases and the defeat of Hamas[1].
In the past 24 hours, 146 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks, making it a grave humanitarian crisis[1]. On the devastating Friday, Israeli attacks killed 109 people and injured more than 200. This intensified violence has resulted in nearly 300 deaths between Wednesday and Friday, while the death toll since October 7 has reached an appalling 53,119, primarily civilians such as women and children. The number of injured surpasses 120,000 due to constant bombings[1][2].
Amidst this chaos, both Hamas and Israel are undertaking a new round of negotiations in Doha, Qatar, with a shared commitment to discuss all issues without any preconditions[1][5]. The Hamas delegation has voiced their need to end the war, exchange prisoners, secure Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, enable humanitarian aid access, and meet the needs of the Gaza population[5].
The Israeli Defense Minister has confirmed that these negotiations center around efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages detained by Hamas. Interestingly, these talks have commenced without Israel committing to a ceasefire or lifting the blockade initially[5].
U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East tour on Friday without significant advancements towards a new ceasefire. However, he acknowledged and expressed concern about the mushrooming hunger crisis in Gaza. Simultaneously, he overlooked the intense bombings[3].
In a surprising move, the United Nations has rejected a private aid plan backed by the U.S. and Israel to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza. The United Nations insisted that its existing plan, supported by an international coalition and ready to activate if allowed, is more effective and neutral[4]. This stance came after a private American group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, announced its plans to begin operating in Gaza later this month, proposing to distribute humanitarian aid while Israel takes control of the distribution process[4].
On another front, the war in Gaza occupied a central role at the annual Arab League summit in Iraq, where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Spain's proposal to the UN for the International Court of Justice to rule on Israel's compliance with international obligations regarding access to humanitarian aid in Gaza[6].
Sánchez also advocated for an end to the cycle of violence in Gaza and emphasized that the situation cannot be disregarded by Europe and the rest of the world[6]. Meanwhile, in a horrifying incident, at least one person died in an Israeli drone attack on a car in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire that was established six months prior[7]. Despite ongoing conflict and loss of life, both Israel and Palestinian authorities must invest in peaceful negotiations for lasting resolution and humanitarian relief.
Insight: During negotiations, Hamas is demanding a full end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza as conditions for any ceasefire, whereas Israel is pushing for a temporary truce contingent on Hamas remaining undefeated. In addition, Hamas has proposed a year-long ceasefire with Israel that includes security guarantees, but Israel is skeptical about firm long-term agreements.
[1] "Israel begins new military operation in Gaza, kills 42 in airstrikes – Health ministry," Reuters, 2021.[2] ""Operation Gideon Chariots": the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip," El País, 2021.[3] "Trump's Middle East tour ends, leaving Gaza on fire and conflicts unresolved," Middle East Eye, 2021.[4] "UN rejects private aid plan backed by Israel and US to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza," Al Jazeera, 2021.[5] "Hamas and Israel resume talks in Qatar to reach a ceasefire," Middle East Monitor, 2021.[6] "It will be up to the Spanish Government to propose a solution on the conflict in Gaza," ABC, 2021.[7] "One dead in Israeli drone attack on car in Lebanon," Associated Press, 2021.
The average number of daily fatalities during the operation in Gaza has reached a shocking scale, numbering 146 in the past 24 hours [1]. In general news, it is essential to analyze the political ramifications of this operation, as well as the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire, which have been influenced by factors such as the demand for hostage releases and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza [1, 5].
