In a statement on Sunday, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), stated that Israel will persist in its military operations in Gaza throughout 2024. Hagari outlined a strategic shift in the management of IDF troops, emphasizing a “smart” approach.
As part of this shift, five reservist brigades will be withdrawn from combat, with the intention of revitalizing the Israeli economy while the country braces for an extended conflict.
Hagari explained that this decision will not only provide relief for the economy but also enable the reservists to prepare for future operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments during a press conference on Saturday, cautioning that there are still “many more months” of fighting ahead.
The international community has made numerous appeals for a ceasefire in Gaza, but the government has firmly rejected these pleas.
The death toll in Gaza has been steadily rising due to the government’s AI-enhanced bombing campaign, with over 21,800 Palestinian deaths reported by the enclave’s health ministry since Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7.
The situation is dire, with an additional 56,000 people seriously wounded and approximately 85% of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents displaced.
The United States has consistently supported Israel throughout the conflict, even vetoing UN Security Council resolutions that called for a ceasefire.
However, there have been disagreements between the US and Israel regarding the future of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that the territory will remain under Israeli control after the war, while the US has advocated for it to be governed by the Palestinian Authority as a step towards a two-state solution.
Netanyahu has been vocal about his opposition to Palestinian statehood, and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has even suggested encouraging the migration of Palestinians out of Gaza and reestablishing Jewish settlements in the area.
Despite claims from Netanyahu’s office that Israel does not seek to displace the population in Gaza, leaked government documents have revealed a plan to relocate all of the territory’s residents to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, causing alarm among Palestinians.
