Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza, but he continues to push back against international calls for an agreement. Explore the latest developments in the ongoing conflict.
After 11 months of fighting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted calls for increased efforts to secure the release of Israelis held captive in the Gaza Strip.
Amid mass protests in his home country and mounting pressure from President Joe Biden, Netanyahu finds himself grappling with the aftermath of Israeli forces recovering six captive bodies over the weekend – amongst them 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
He argued that the inclusion of Israeli authority over the Philadelphi Corridor is crucial in establishing a ceasefire agreement, as this narrow strip along Gaza’s border with Egypt serves as Hamas’ alleged gateway for illegal weapon smuggling.
There is denial from Egypt and Hamas regarding this matter, while the Palestinian group has refused to allow any Israeli presence in that vicinity.
Netanyahu emphasized the significance of the corridor in preventing Hamas, who holds control over Gaza, from utilizing tunnels for rearming purposes.
He proclaimed, “This is Hamas’ lifeblood. I am utterly devoted to securing the hostages’ release… No one may lecture me on this matter.”
It seems like the primary Israeli supporter is getting tired of his stubbornness.
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On Monday, while addressing reporters at the White House, Biden expressed his belief that Netanyahu’s efforts towards reaching a deal were insufficient. He hinted that the US would be putting forth its ultimate proposal to both parties this week.
When asked if the latest effort would be successful, he stated that hope never fades.
Later that evening, Biden revealed his intention to eventually have a conversation with Netanyahu but failed to provide any specific timeframe when questioned. Over the past year since Israel began its conflict in Gaza, there have been multiple instances of communication between Biden and Netanyahu.
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According to Sami Abu Zuhri, a top Hamas leader, Biden’s condemnation of Netanyahu is an acknowledgment by the United States that Netanyahu has impeded any attempts at striking a deal.
According to him, the proposal that guarantees a ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave will receive a positive response from the group.
On the Monday that just passed, Israeli protestors hit the streets for a second consecutive day and their biggest trade union declared a general strike. Their objective was to push the government into finding an agreement which would result in the release of those held captive.
Despite months of negotiations facilitated by the US, Qatar and Egypt, a consensus over Biden’s Gaza proposal from May remains elusive with sporadic progress.
According to Israel, the recent outbreak of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has spanned several decades was provoked on October 7 when Hamas militants unexpectedly launched an assault on Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,139 individuals and approximately 250 people being held captive.
Israel’s offensive against the Hamas-controlled area has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths and forced almost all of the populace consisting of 2.3 million individuals to flee their homes.
