Residents of Gaza to be moved to southern Gaza by Israel
A week after the devastating attack by Hamas and other Islamic groups on Israel, which resulted in around 1200 deaths and more than 250 hostages being taken to Gaza, the situation remains volatile. Thousands in Israel are demanding a quick end to the conflict and a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Einav Zangauker, whose son is one of the living hostages, has vowed to bring the country to a standstill on Sunday and continue their protests. Meanwhile, hostage relatives in Israel are planning a strike on the same day to paralyze the country, although the powerful trade union federation Histadrut has not joined the call. It remains unclear if the strike will have an impact.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic due to the war. Months of indirect negotiations over the release of the hostages and the end of the war have yielded no results. The total number of deaths in the Gaza war has risen to nearly 62,000.
The Netanyahu government is preparing to escalate the conflict, with reports suggesting plans to capture the city of Gaza and central refugee camps. However, there is currently no feasible plan or timeline to relocate Palestinians within the Gaza Strip as part of Israel’s preparation for evacuating the population from combat zones. Local authorities have warned that such a mass relocation to the southern provinces is "almost impossible" due to space and infrastructure limitations.
Israeli estimates suggest that Hamas is not only holding the living hostages but also the bodies of 30 abductees in the Gaza Strip. Attempts to revive the negotiating process between Israelis and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, are often mentioned in media reports.
In the past 24 hours, the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza reported that 62 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks. Additionally, 29 of the deaths were connected to the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Despite the ongoing conflict, the delivery of tents and equipment for accommodations will resume on Sunday. The people will be moved to the south of the Gaza Strip for their protection. The Israeli chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, has reportedly initiated plans to meet the requirements of the country's political leadership.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, both sides remain locked in a stalemate, with no clear resolution in sight.
The Commission, amidst the volatile political climate surrounding the Gaza conflict, is also proposing to increase the number of EU-funded projects in the field of education to promote peace and understanding. General news outlets are reporting war-and-conflicts updates from the region, with the situation remaining stalemated between both sides, providing little hope for a swift resolution.
