Israel Stands Firm in Conflict with Hamas
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has reaffirmed Israel's commitment to continuing the battle against Hamas, the Islamic militant Palestinian organization, "regardless of international support." On a thunderous Thursday night, the Israeli Air Force did not falter, bombing targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-led Health Ministry in the Palestinian territory recorded at least 19 fatalities, a grim addition to the mounting death toll. The Palestinian Authority reported two fatalities stemming from Israeli attacks in Jenin, a city in the West Bank.
Earlier in the week, the UN General Assembly, traditionally an ally of Israel, passed a non-binding resolution urging an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The United States, a close ally, also voiced its disapproval of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, with President Joe Biden criticizing Israel's tactics as "indiscriminate."
Privately, the White House National Security Council shared concerns about civilian casualties and expressed hope for an end to the ongoing military operation. However, the US administration was aware that Hamas was the instigator of the conflict.
Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, was set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Thursday. Prior to the meeting, Sullivan advocated for Israel to reduce the intensity of their attacks.
Meanwhile, US news channel CNN reported, using US intelligence data, that approximately 40-45% of the bombs dropped on the Gaza Strip lacked guidance systems. These less precise munitions pose a higher risk to civilians than their more accurate counterparts.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel. This attack resulted in over 1,200 fatalities, with around 240 hostages mostly civilians. Israeli forces responded by conducting airstrikes and ground operations, vowing to destroy Hamas.
According to reports from the Hamas-led Ministry of Health, more than 18,600 individuals have perished in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, however, expressed hopes for a future with his organization's involvement, dismissing any agreements without Hamas as "illusions."
A recent survey conducted by the Palestinian polling institute PCPSR revealed that 78% of surveyed individuals in Palestinian territories would support Haniyeh in an election, a significant jump from the 58% support before the conflict. Two-thirds of those surveyed also believed that Hamas would maintain control of Gaza following the end of hostilities.
