Netanyahu to Biden: Israel will continue the Gaza operation as soon as the truce ends

Israel is facing increasing pressure to extend the truce period scheduled for only four days so far as part of its war on Hamas, but Israeli military officials fear that a longer truce will weaken Israeli efforts to eliminate the movement, according to Agence France-Presse.

In total, on Friday and Saturday, the Hamas movement handed over 26 Israeli hostages, some of whom hold another nationality, to the International Committee of the Red Cross, while Israel released 78 Palestinian prisoners. All those released are women and children.

Over the past two days, Hamas also released 15 non-Israeli foreigners, in a measure that was not included in the agreement.

The agreement, which was brokered by Qatar and with the participation of the United States and Egypt, stipulates the release of fifty hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners over the four days of the extendable truce.

This would increase the number of hostages returned by Hamas, and there is great internal pressure in Israel to do so, but it gives the movement greater margin to regroup, recover, rearm, and return to fighting, according to analysts.

This agreement also increases diplomatic pressure on Israel from the international community, whose support for the renewed bombing of Gaza will decline with the resulting humanitarian crisis.

Andreas Craig, professor of defense studies at King’s College London, told Agence France-Presse: “Time is working against Israel, as it always does, and against the Israeli army.” He points out that the longer the truce lasts, the more the international community becomes impatient with the continuation of the war. However, the Israeli army is determined to achieve its goal of “eliminating” the Hamas movement.

During a visit to Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant stressed that the timetable for the truce is “short,” explaining, “It will not take weeks, it will take days to some extent.”

Surrounded by heavily armed soldiers, he added, “Any further negotiations will take place under fire.”

“A terrible dilemma”

The war broke out after the sudden attack by the Hamas movement, which killed about 1,200 Israelis, most of whom died on the first day of the attack, according to the Israeli authorities.

Since then, Israel has launched intense bombardment on the Gaza Strip, which has been accompanied since October 27 by extensive ground operations inside the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas government, the bombing caused the death of approximately 15,000 people, including more than six thousand children.

Arik Rudnitzky, a researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle East and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, says: “The real pressure (to extend the truce) comes from within Israel, from the families of the hostages.”

On Saturday evening, a massive demonstration took place in the streets of Tel Aviv in which tens of thousands participated, demanding the release of the hostages, during which the protesters, who carried pictures of the hostages, chanted, “Free them now.” One of the signs read: “Get them out of hell.”

An Israeli military official said that Israel is committed to releasing the largest number of hostages, but he expressed concern that the longer the truce lasts, Hamas will have more time “to rebuild its capabilities and attack Israel again.”

He added, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, requesting that his identity not be revealed, “It is a terrible dilemma.”

“Political will”

Qatar was the main mediator in negotiations to stop the fighting. Its Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majid Al-Ansari, told Agence France-Presse that there is a need to “maintain momentum” for a permanent ceasefire.

He added, “This can only be achieved when there is political will, not only on the part of the Israelis and Palestinians, but also on the part of the other partners who work with us.”

On Friday, US President Joe Biden confirmed the existence of “real opportunities” to extend the four-day truce in Gaza, saying that it is time to work to “revive” the two-state solution to establish peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Andreas Craig, professor of defense studies at King’s College London, believes that Washington is not prepared for an intensive operation that will “continue for months without interruption,” especially with the approaching date of the US presidential elections next year.

He explains, “Therefore, the Biden administration needs to find a way out as well.” He added, “There is no military solution to this conflict. It cannot be won.”

For his part, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that the movement is “ready to seriously consider reaching new deals.”

The release of the hostages came on Saturday after a delay of hours, which Hamas said was caused by Israel’s failure to adhere to the terms of the agreement. But Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman denied this, pointing out that Hamas was adopting a “delaying tactic” as part of “psychological warfare.”

Former Israeli intelligence official Avi Melamed told Agence France-Presse, “Hamas will stall with the hostages to try to exhaust this card for the longest possible time and at the highest price that this may pose to Israel.”

It is said that Hamas hoped that support within Israel for the incursion into the Gaza Strip would dissipate and that “in the end, international and internal pressures on the Israeli government would create conditions in which Hamas could continue to exist and rule Gaza even after the end of this war.” .

The independent researcher in Middle East affairs, Eva Koulouriotis, gives the same opinion, explaining to Agence France-Presse, “For (Hamas), any scenario for this war that does not lead to the end of its presence in the Gaza Strip will be considered a victory (…) regardless of its human and material losses and the size of its losses.” The destruction in Gaza and the extent of civilian casualties.”