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Tension In The Conflict Between Israel And Hamas Increased After The Israeli Government Threatened To Seize Parts Of The Gaza Strip If The Hostages Held By The Group Are Not Released
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared on Wednesday (26) that he may occupy parts of the Gaza Strip if the hostages held by Hamas are not released. Hamas responded, warning that the lives of these individuals are at risk due to Israeli bombings.
Netanyahu’s statement came during a session in Parliament. He stated that, in light of Hamas’ refusal to negotiate, pressure will increase. “The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the greater the pressure we will exert. This includes the capture of territories, along with other measures which I will not elaborate on here,” said the Prime Minister.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, also commented. Last week, he stated that he ordered the Army to “take more territory in Gaza, evacuating the population.” He added: “The more Hamas refuses to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel.”
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Currently, 58 hostages held by Hamas remain in Gaza. They were kidnapped during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to the Israeli Army, 34 of these individuals are believed to have died.
New Escalation After The Truce End
Since the end of the truce, fighting has intensified. The pause in the war lasted nearly two months, from January 19 to March 18. When it ended, Israel resumed bombings and ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
According to the local Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, at least 830 Palestinians have died since the end of the ceasefire. The territory remains besieged and devastated after 15 months of continuous conflict.
The Israeli Army also reported that two projectiles were fired from Gaza on Wednesday. One was intercepted, while the other fell in the south of the country. There were no casualties or damage.
These attacks occurred a day after popular protests in northern Gaza. Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against Hamas and demand an end to the war with Israel. New demonstrations were called for Wednesday, via the Telegram platform.
Hostages At Risk And Internal Criticism Of Hamas
Hamas issued a statement on Wednesday claiming that it is trying to keep the hostages alive, but that Israeli bombings put their lives at risk. The group accused Israel of acting arbitrarily. “Every time the occupation tries to recover its [citizens] captives by force, it ends up bringing them back in coffins,” it declared.
The truce that ended in March allowed for the release of 25 hostages held by Hamas and the repatriation of the bodies of eight captives. In exchange, Israel released about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Now, with the dialogues paralyzed, Israel says the new offensive aims to force a new agreement.
The initial Hamas attack in October 2023 killed 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to a survey by AFP based on official data.
In response, Israel launched an aerial and ground offensive against Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of 50,183 people so far, also mostly civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The UN considers the data reliable.
Increasing Discontent Among Palestinians
On Tuesday, the city of Beit Lahia was the scene of the largest demonstration against Hamas since the beginning of the war. The protesters shouted phrases like “Get Out, Hamas” and “Hamas, Terrorist.” One of them, identified only as Majdi, stated: “The people are tired.”
On Saturday, the Fatah movement, Hamas’ political rival, also took a stand. The group, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called for Hamas to relinquish power. In a warning tone, it stated that if this does not happen, “the upcoming battle will lead to the end of the existence of Palestinians in Gaza.”
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