Belligerent Netanyahu vows more deaths despite killing 23,000 Gazans, ignoring families of hostages
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Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently undeterred by the domestic and international pressure as he vowed to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is finished, despite the families of hostages who were in Hamas custody for their release interrupting the PM in the parliament.
The war in Gaza has so far claimed the lives of more than 23,000 Palestinian civilians, including the majority of women and children. It has also left all infrastructure of Gaza reduced to rubble, as Israel launched a devastating and indiscriminate assault on Gaza in pursuit of Hamas militants
Netanyahu's announcement came after he visited Gaza on Monday, emphasizing the need for an extended and intensified military campaign against Hamas.
However, back home, the Prime Minister faced vocal and emotional opposition from families of more than 100 Israeli hostages still believed to be in captivity in Gaza.
In a parliamentary speech, interrupted by desperate cries of "Now! Now!" from the hostages' relatives, Netanyahu defended the prolonged conflict, citing the necessity for increased military pressure on Hamas to secure the release of the captives.
The death toll of Israeli soldiers, now totalling 156, has begun to erode public support for the war, further exacerbated by the rising number of civilian casualties. With protests erupting near the defence ministry headquarters in central Tel Aviv, the families of hostages demanded their loved ones' immediate return. At the same time, opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the government to do more.
The international community, including the United States, a key ally of Israel, has pressured the regime to reduce the intensity of its operations in Gaza and minimize civilian casualties. A UN Security Council resolution calling for urgent action towards a ceasefire was passed on Friday. Still, the ground fighting has only intensified since the collapse of a seven-day truce at the start of December.
In a bid to end the conflict, an Egyptian proposal was presented, outlining a three-stage plan. The plan includes an initial ceasefire for at least a week and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, followed by a week for the exchange of female soldiers and Palestinian prisoners.
The final stage involves a month-long negotiation period for the release of male soldiers in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal. While the proposal received a cols reception from both Israel and Hamas, discussions within the Israeli war cabinet are reportedly ongoing.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Monday, Netanyahu outlined his "three prerequisites for peace," which include the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the de-radicalization of Palestinian society.
He argued that achieving these goals would pave the way for Gaza's reconstruction and contribute to broader peace prospects in the Middle East.
