Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war on Hamas in Gaza will continue for “many more months,” despite international calls for a cease-fire. Netanyahu expressed gratitude to the Biden administration for its support and approval of emergency weapons sales. Israeli warplanes have continued to strike refugee camps in Gaza, while ground forces have advanced into the city of Khan Younis. The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported over 21,600 Palestinian deaths since the start of the offensive, with 165 deaths in the past 24 hours. The number of Israeli soldiers killed has risen to 170. The war has displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, leaving them with a sense of nowhere being safe.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of abating, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the war will continue for “many more months.” Despite international calls for a cease-fire, Israel argues that ending the war now would mean victory for Hamas. The Biden administration has backed Israel’s position while urging them to do more to avoid harm to Palestinian civilians.
In the latest round of fighting, Israeli warplanes targeted the urban refugee camps of Nuseirat and Bureij in Gaza, while ground forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Khan Younis. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over 21,600 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the offensive, with 165 deaths in the past 24 hours. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but has stated that around 70% of those killed have been women and children. The number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat has risen to 170.
The war has resulted in the displacement of approximately 85% of Gaza’s population, leaving them with a sense of nowhere being safe. Thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter in overcrowded areas designated as safe by Israel, only to be bombed by the military. Tens of thousands more have streamed into the already crowded city of Rafah at the southernmost end of Gaza, setting up tents and makeshift shacks on the outskirts.
The dire situation in Gaza has prompted the Biden administration to approve emergency weapons sales to Israel, bypassing Congress. Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved a $147.5 million sale for equipment needed for 155 mm shells. This is the second emergency weapons sale this month, following the approval of tank ammunition worth over $106 million. The aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs remains stalled in Congress due to debates over immigration policy and border security.
US officials have urged Israel to shift from high-intensity combat to more targeted operations but have not imposed a deadline. Netanyahu has stated that the war will continue until all objectives are achieved, including the annihilation of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Over 120 hostages remain in Gaza, with militants seizing over 240 during the October 7 assault that also claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Netanyahu’s stance on who should run Gaza after the war has put him at odds with the Biden administration. The US-backed idea of a unified Palestinian government running both Gaza and parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank as a precursor to eventual statehood has been rejected by Netanyahu. He insists on open-ended Israeli security control in Gaza without specifying what would come next.
Families of hostages and their supporters have demanded that hostage releases take priority over other war objectives. Egypt has proposed a multistage plan that includes a swap of hostages for prisoners and a temporary cease-fire. Hamas insists that the war must end before discussing hostage releases but has not given a final answer to the Egyptian proposal.
The delivery of aid to Gaza remains a challenge, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for unhindered access. Aid officials report that conditions have worsened, with long delays at border crossings, ongoing fighting, Israeli airstrikes, and a breakdown of law and order hindering the distribution of goods. The entire population is dependent on outside humanitarian aid, with a quarter of the population facing starvation due to insufficient supplies.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, the suffering of civilians intensifies. The international community’s calls for a cease-fire have so far been unsuccessful, leaving the people of Gaza in a state of despair. The ongoing war has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with displaced individuals struggling to find basic necessities such as food and water. Urgent action is needed to bring an end to the violence and provide much-needed aid to those affected by the conflict.