The Israeli Defense Minister warned on Thursday that the war with Hamas will last “more than several months” as he met with a senior U.S. official amid a rift between allies over rising civilian casualties.
The War in Gaza
The war, now entering its third month, began after unprecedented attacks by the Palestinian group on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Destruction in Gaza
In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched an unrelenting military campaign that has resulted in the destruction of large parts of Gaza. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory said 18,787 people have been killed, most of them women and children.
The Meeting Between Sullivan and Gallant
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Duration of the War and International Support
In their meeting, Gallant warned that Israel’s battle with Hamas “will take time – it will last more than several months, but we will win and destroy them.”
International Reactions
Nevertheless, U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, voiced sharp criticism of the war this week. He said the “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza by Israel is impacting international support.
Continuing the War and Rejecting a Two-State Solution
However, Netanyahu emphasized that he will continue “until victory,” and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that the war will continue “regardless of international support.”
Ceasefire Decision and Displacement in Gaza
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding resolution on a ceasefire, with the United States voting against it.
The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced.
The Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said on Wednesday that the people of Gaza are facing “the worst chapter in their history.”
He said they are “now crammed into less than a third” of the land and noted that there could be migration to Egypt, “especially when the border is very close.”
Hospitals and Humanitarian Aid
Hospitals in Gaza are struggling to operate partially, and the World Health Organization has expressed concern about an Israeli attack on the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Wednesday that the hospital’s director and about 70 other medical staff are “still being held in an unknown location outside the hospital.”
It said Israeli forces released five doctors and nurses, but there are reports of “mistreatment” of those who were detained.
Border Clashes
Israeli tanks shelled Gaza from southern Israel on Thursday.
Militants continued to fire rockets from Gaza toward Israeli territory.
Pressure on Israel and Hostages
The Israeli army is facing increasing pressure to minimize ground troop casualties – claiming that 116 have been killed in Gaza – and to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Israeli authorities believe there are 118 hostages still alive in Gaza after being captured by militants on October 7. Some were released during a prisoner exchange of Palestinians during a ceasefire that lasted a week and ended on December 1.
Shelling in Lebanon
Israeli forces reported that fighter jets bombed infrastructure and compounds of Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon after munitions were launched toward northern Israel.
Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas, have been engaged in frequent exchanges of fire since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
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