After 186 days of war and more than 33,300 Gazans dead, the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip still does not occur despite some rapprochement, while the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuredoubles its threats of a ground invasion in the southern area of Rafah.
This Tuesday, the Islamist organization Hamas announced in an official statement that the latest Israeli proposal, mediated on Sunday in Cairodoes not address their main demands, which continue to be a definitive ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the return of the displaced to the north of the Strip.
“Israel’s stance remains stubborn and has not responded to any of the demands of our people and our resistance”undermined the group, which, however, indicated that it will study the proposal.
Tonight it is planned that both the War Cabinetcomposed of Netanyahu, the defense minister Yoav Gallant and the minister Benny Gantzas the broader Security Cabinet to discuss the release of the 133 hostages and the final negotiations, which are expected to resume in Cairo.
Dozens of protesters, including relatives of captives held in Gaza, have gathered in the square Yigal Shiloh in Jerusalem, outside the cabinet meeting, in order to pressure the government to reach an agreement.
«132 nights I imagine the image of my husband, Ohad, before I go to sleep, and I cannot close my eyes because I am afraid of seeing the suffering expression on his face and knowing that I have no way to help him»said Raz Ben, one of the hostages freed after 54 days in Gaza, according to a statement released by the families.
As revealed this Tuesday by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, the latest proposal mediated by the United States contemplates the return of 150,000 Palestinians to northern Gaza, a significant increase compared to the 60,000 considered so far by Israel.
In addition, Israel requested that the first phase of the truce entail the release of 40 hostages in the humanitarian category, that is, children, women and the elderly, but according to the local newspaper Walla News, Hamas would have assured that it would not have so many captives alive who comply. those characteristics; which could be compensated with the release of soldiers and male hostages.
Ground invasion in Rafah
Within the Strip, fear is increasing among the population of a possible ground invasion in Rafah in the coming weeks or months, especially after the withdrawal on Sunday of all Israeli troops. Jan Yunis and the alleged purchase by Israel of some 40,000 tents to house those already displaced, once they are forced to leave Rafah again.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense published a tender on Monday for a supplier of 40,000 tents, as revealed this Tuesday by the Times of Israel, which would be part of the preparations for the military takeover of Rafah, an Israeli official confirmed to the newspaper under anonymity. Those tents couldn’t hold even 500,000 people, this source said.
For his part, Netanyahu announced this Monday, for the first time, that he had “a date” planned, which he did not reveal and the US claims to be unaware of, for the invasion of Rafah; where he says that four Hamas battalions remain active, preventing the “absolute victory” over the Islamist organization and the aspiration that it will never again constitute a “threat” to Israel.
“We will complete the elimination of Hamas battalions, including in Rafah. There is no force in the world that can stop us.”the Hebrew leader insisted today during his visit to the military base of Tel Hashomerin the center of the country, meeting with new recruits in combat and surveillance posts.
The international community and human rights organizations have been urging Netanyahu for months not to invade Rafah, as it could trigger a massacre among the civilian population in one of the most overcrowded and vulnerable places on the planet. EFE (I)
#Israel #redoubles #threats #invasion #Rafah
