Connect with us

Published

on

Israel is considering a final offensive in Gaza to free the last hostages. But the civilian death toll is rising and the blockade of humanitarian aid is exacerbating tensions

TEL AVIV – Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a military solution to free the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas. According to diplomatic sources reported by the Hebrew media, the Israeli prime minister believes that “Hamas is not interested in any agreement” and is promoting an expansive military operation as the only way out.

Currently, it is believed that there are about 20 hostages still alive, survivors of the massacre of 7 October 2023. Netanyahu is said to have proposed extending armed operations in the Gaza Strip, focusing on “a decisive military victory” and targeted infiltration to extract the prisoners. This strategy has already raised concerns among the families of the hostages, who fear for the safety of their loved ones.

No room for a truce
“Hamas does not want an agreement,” said an Israeli government source. The Islamist organisation has reportedly rejected any possibility of negotiation without a significant improvement in humanitarian conditions in the Strip, demanding at least 250 aid trucks per day as a precondition. The request, reported in the Jerusalem Post, was conveyed to regional mediators, but Israel considers the group’s stance to be a veiled rejection of negotiations.

In support of his position, Netanyahu reiterated that aid will only be allowed to pass through areas outside the combat zones and, if possible, away from Hamas’ direct control. However, this line is also a source of tension at the international level: the United States, through its special envoy Steve Witkoff, has reportedly expressed opposition to the idea of military expansion and is instead proposing a negotiated solution, ruling out the possibility of partial agreements.

Bombs, hunger and protests
While the fate of the hostages is being discussed, the people of Gaza continue to pay the highest price. At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in the last 24 hours in Israeli raids. Several victims were civilians trying to reach humanitarian aid distribution points. According to hospital sources, seven people were killed and another 20 wounded near the Ghf aid centre in the centre of the Strip. Two other civilians, including a woman, died in Rafah.

Air raids on Deir al-Balah and Beit Lahia caused further deaths, while seven people were reportedly hit in bombings in the Shuja’iyya area of Gaza City. Since the beginning of the conflict, according to Hamas, 180 people have died of malnutrition, including 93 children. In the last 24 hours alone, five people are reported to have died of starvation.

Activists block aid
To further complicate the situation, a group of Israeli activists has blocked the passage of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to local media, the tyres of several vehicles arriving from Jordan have been slashed. Among the protesters were friends of Rom Braslavski, the hostage who appeared in a recent video released by Islamic Jihad.

‘Rom was supposed to be in the car with me after the festival. Now he is starving to death, while we send food to his captors,’ said one of the activists, a former security guard at the Nova rave, where one of the most brutal massacres of the 7 October attack took place.

THE LATEST NEWS

Tyler Perry abuse: New legal claims target Hollywood actor and producer

Hollywood mogul accused of harassing young male actors Tyler Perry abuse is at the center of new legal controversies, with...
Read More
Tyler Perry abuse: New legal claims target Hollywood actor and producer

Bella 1 tanker incident highlights US sanctions evasion

The Bella 1 tanker incident exposes evasion of US forces, sanctions violations, and risks to maritime security in the Atlantic...
Read More
Bella 1 tanker incident highlights US sanctions evasion

Putin Valdai drone attack: Moscow data inconsistencies raise doubts

Russia claims 91 Ukrainian drones targeted Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai, but analysts highlight conflicting numbers and lack of evidence...
Read More
Putin Valdai drone attack: Moscow data inconsistencies raise doubts

Saudi Arabia and the UAE rivalry puts Yemen back at the center of regional tensions

Emergency measures in Yemen, rising frictions in the Gulf, and Israel’s Somaliland move add pressure on regional stability The Saudi...
Read More
Saudi Arabia and the UAE rivalry puts Yemen back at the center of regional tensions

Protests by university students in Iran spread from Tehran to Isfahan

Protests by university students in Iran expand from universities in Tehran to Isfahan amid opposition to repression and economic hardship....
Read More
Protests by university students in Iran spread from Tehran to Isfahan

Deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus raises fears across Europe

Belarus confirms the systems are now on combat duty as tensions rise with Russia and Ukraine The deployment of Oreshnik...
Read More
Deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus raises fears across Europe

(Photo: © AndKronos)

Di Tendenza/Trending