IIsrael's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to see military action against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip as the only way to bring the hostages held in the coastal area back to Israel. “Only the continuation of the powerful military pressure that we have exercised and will continue to exercise will bring back our hostages,” Netanyahu said on Thursday evening at a meeting with relatives of abducted soldiers, according to his office. “I know that every day that goes by is hell for you.” He doesn’t want to leave any hostage behind.
According to Israeli estimates, almost 100 people who were abducted are still alive. The war was triggered by the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian extremists on October 7th. The attackers murdered more than 1,200 people in the Israeli border area and kidnapped 250 to the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive, which in turn killed thousands of people.
Negotiations are not progressing
Negotiations between the mediating states Qatar, Egypt and the USA regarding a ceasefire in the war and the release of the hostages are currently making no progress. After Hamas recently rejected a new compromise proposal, the Israeli negotiating team returned from indirect talks in Qatar earlier this week. However, according to information from the Wall Street Journal, the talks are expected to continue next week in Cairo. According to Netanyahu, Israel continues to maintain control over the northern Gaza Strip and the city of Khan Yunis. In addition, the army is continuing to prepare to invade Rafah in the very south of Gaza, Israel's head of government confirmed.
According to the latest UN estimates, around 1.2 million people in Rafah are currently seeking protection in a small area from the fighting in other parts of the coastal area. The USA and Germany have repeatedly warned Israel clearly against a large-scale ground offensive there. Israel wants to destroy the last Hamas battalions in the city near the Egyptian border.
UN court: Famine already exists
Given the dire humanitarian situation and the many civilian casualties as a result of the war, there is criticism of the Israeli military's actions from many countries. The International Court of Justice in The Hague on Thursday obliged Israel to quickly allow the delivery of significantly more aid to the Gaza Strip.
In the ongoing genocide trial against Israel, the United Nations' highest court ordered that more border crossings must be opened for the transport of food and medical aid. It was said that there was no longer just a risk of famine, but that famine had already begun. Israel must now report to the Court within a month what measures it is taking to implement it.