Rockets have flown into Israel and Gaza from all sides. Israeli civilians and soldiers have been captured by Hamas soldiers
A new major war has flared up between Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel.
– The worst scenario we thought could happen: It has now happened, says Jon Hanssen-Bauer to NRK.
He is Norway’s former ambassador to Israel, she is head of the foreign affairs and defense committee in the Storting.
Jon Hanssen-Bauer and Ine Eriksen Søreide at Marienlyst.
Photo: Cicilie Sigrid Andersen / NRK
He refers to how Palestinian fighters have infiltrated Israeli territory. Now he believes that the war will soon be carried over to Gaza territory.
– Israel’s government has no choice. They must retrieve all the hostages captured there. Which in turn could trigger a much bigger attack from Hezbollah than what we have seen so far.
– If they escalate, then it is a pitch black scenario for Israel and Palestinian civilians, says Bauer-Hanssen.
First time since 1949 that Palestinians have control over Israeli areas, says Cecilie Hellestveit, researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Law
Photo: Cicilie Sigrid Andersen / NRK
Cecilie Hellestveit, researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Law, agrees with Bauer-Hanssen that the Israeli authorities may find themselves having to enter Gaza to free Israelis who have been captured.
– Israel’s mantra is that if Israelis are taken hostage by an enemy, the state must do everything in its power to bring them back, she says.
Hellestveit believes that a ground invasion is then necessary to free the prisoners, as drone attacks could potentially also hit Israeli citizens.
– A ground invasion would be a bad solution for both Israeli soldiers and the population of Gaza.
Just less than a month ago, the CEO of Noref, Marte Heian-Engdal, was in Gaza. NOREF’s task is to support Norwegian and international peace efforts.
– There was quite aspen in the area when I was there. You could follow the tension in the air, says CEO of Noref, Marte Heian-Engdal in Gaza.
– There was quite aspen in the area when I was there. You could feel the tension in the air.
She says that people in the area talked about it as if a war was around the corner and that many Israelis were already collecting food and goods for a war situation.
– It felt as if it was at the boiling point even then.
Over 600 killed
– Time will tell how they will resolve this conflict, but there is no doubt that we will see a bloodbath in the coming days and weeks, says Hanssen-Bauer.
The beginning of this carnage is already underway.
According to local health authorities in Gaza, at least 313 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. In addition, almost 2,000 people are said to have been injured.
Several civilian lives have already been lost.
Photo: Reuters
On the Israeli side, health authorities state that at least 300 Israelis have been killed in the attacks, while nearly 1,600 are said to have been wounded. Many of those killed are said to be civilians.
Can Norway do something?
When asked how Norway should deal with the conflict in the future, Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) replies that the important thing is that Norway is clear in its condemnation.
But she doesn’t think there is any room to try to start a dialogue right now.
Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide (H) heads the foreign affairs and defense committee in the Storting.
Photo: Cicilie Sigrid Andersen / NRK
– It is a situation where both parties consider themselves to be at war. The most important thing the international community can do right now is to try to avoid further escalation, Søreide believes.
Actors in the region and surrounding countries in particular have an important responsibility.
– How they now want to stand will have a great impact on the further outcome to an even stronger degree than what Norway can talk to the parties about. It is the USA that will have a major impact on the opportunities to contribute to not escalating.
2023-10-08 08:59:37
#Norways #ambassador #Israel #bloodbath
