Yesterday, Netanyahu stated, “The intensive phase of the war against Hamas is about to end. It doesn’t mean that the war is about to end but its intensive phase is about to end in Rafah.” He emphasized that the offensive would continue even if a partial cease-fire were agreed upon, with the aim of fully neutralizing Hamas. This stance diverges from a truce proposal backed by the United States, setting the stage for further tensions with the Biden administration and adding stress to families of hostages in Gaza.
Netanyahu acknowledged that while the current phase of operations in Gaza is nearing completion, the conflict itself is not concluding. “We will continue afterward to mow the lawn; we will not give up on that,” he said, referring to ongoing military actions in Gaza. He also expressed a readiness to reallocate forces to confront the growing conflict on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Hamas responded to Netanyahu’s remarks, labeling his partial deal approach as a clear rejection of President Joe Biden’s comprehensive proposal. The group insisted on a complete cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as conditions for any agreement. Netanyahu’s office, however, reiterated that Israel remains committed to retrieving all hostages from Gaza, living or deceased.
Netanyahu’s comments have amplified international concerns about a potential escalation with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned of a real risk that conflict with Hezbollah could ignite broader regional instability. Concurrently, U.S. officials expressed apprehension about an Israeli military offensive into Lebanon, which could provoke a response from Iran and complicate U.S. military efforts in the region.
The relationship between Israel and the United States has been strained over recent accusations by Netanyahu that the U.S. is withholding weapons supplies from Israel. While in Washington, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant maintained that Israel is committed to a robust U.S.-Israel alliance, describing the U.S. as Israel’s most crucial ally. However, Netanyahu accused the U.S. of a “dramatic drop” in weapons deliveries, a claim that the Biden administration disputes.
In the midst of these diplomatic tensions, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. According to local health officials, more than 37,000 people have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s offensive, with many being children. Save the Children reported that up to 21,000 children are missing in Gaza, feared to be trapped beneath rubble, detained, or lost from their families amid the chaos of the conflict.
Netanyahu indicated that once the intense operations in Gaza are concluded, Israeli forces will focus on the northern border. This involves responding to ongoing missile, rocket, and drone attacks by Hezbollah, which has been supporting Hamas since the attacks on October 7th. Over 37,590 people have died in Gaza as a result of the military campaign initiated by Israel following the attacks, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Netanyahu suggested that the offensive in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have been displaced, would be the last major operation in the area. However, he made it clear that Israel’s military actions would continue until Hamas is entirely eliminated. He also proposed a partial deal with Hamas to secure the release of remaining hostages while continuing military operations.
Hamas condemned the idea of a partial deal, accusing Netanyahu of rejecting a comprehensive ceasefire and labeling the recent airstrike on a UN-run vocational college as an act of aggression. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) countered that the buildings targeted were being used by Hamas for military purposes, which Hamas denied.
As Israel prepares to shift its military focus to the northern border, the situation remains tense. Netanyahu stated that the redeployment of troops would serve primarily defensive purposes but would also facilitate the return of Israelis displaced by Hezbollah attacks.
The international community continues to watch closely as the conflict in Gaza nears a new phase, and tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon threaten to escalate into a broader regional conflict.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license and was created by Avi Ohayon.
