Right-wing Israeli faction urged Netanyahu for a conclusive victory against Hamas
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the Israeli government's security cabinet's decision to expand the conflict and capture Gaza City has sparked a wave of criticism both domestically and internationally.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has remained firm in its decision to continue the military campaign against Hamas, backed by U.S. support and rejecting international criticism or calls for a ceasefire. Netanyahu has stressed that the aim is not to occupy Gaza, but to free it from Hamas.
However, the political landscape in Israel is divided. On one side, there are those urging a ceasefire and hostage release, such as demonstrators in Tel Aviv who have been holding up pictures of hostages still in Gaza, calling on the government to secure their release. On the other hand, right-wing figures like Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have advocated for seizing the conflict as an opportunity to annex additional Palestinian territories and assert stronger Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir, key members of Netanyahu's cabinet, hold more extreme positions. They advocate for the conflict to be used as a means to annex more Palestinian land and assert stronger Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, risking further international condemnation. They are less concerned with international opinion and more focused on a hardline approach that includes territorial expansion as part of the conflict strategy.
This political divide fuels tension not only politically but socially, splitting families and communities over perceptions of security, morality, and Israel’s future as both a Jewish and democratic state. While Netanyahu maintains a pragmatic stance balancing international alliances and internal pressures, Smotrich and Ben Gvir adopt a more uncompromising ideology on annexation and continuation of military operations in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the war in Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold a press conference with international media at 4:30 pm local time on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the war in Gaza has been ongoing for over 22 months, with at least 61,430 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable. The Israeli offensive has also resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead.
As the conflict continues, the international community, including some of Israel's allies, are pushing for a negotiated truce to secure the hostages’ return and help alleviate a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the political divide within Israel, and the hardline stance of some cabinet members, may complicate efforts towards a peaceful resolution.
- The United Nations Security Council, scheduled to meet on Sunday, will discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including the Israeli government's decision to capture Gaza City and the subsequent international criticism.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of general news, the arts fraternity, likely concerned with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, might express its empathy through poignant paintings or songs, shedding light on the struggles of Palestinians amidst the ongoing war.
- As partisans on both sides of the Israeli political divide, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key members like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, advocate their respective stances, the health and well-being of Palestinians and Israelis might inadvertently be overlooked in the midst of political maneuvering and war-and-conflicts rhetoric.
