Israel recalled tens of thousands of reservists for an expansion of its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Saturday, after the Hamas publication of a Russian-Israeli hostage video selected in Palestinian territory. According to public television, the Israeli security firm must meet on Sunday with a view to approving the widening of the offensive in Gaza. Relatives of AFP journalists say they have already received their “TSAV 8” (mobilization order). These reservists should replace called or active soldiers across the country as well as in occupied West Bank so that they can be sent to fight in Gaza.
On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his extreme right supporters without whom he would lose his majority, also attacked Qatar, enjoining him to “stop his double game and his double language”. The emirate leads with Egypt mediation for a truce with Hamas and a hostage liberation agreement held in the Gaza Strip. Qatar “firmly rejects the incendiary declarations” by Benjamin Netanyahu “which are contrary to the most basic rules of political and moral responsibility,” reacted Xatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Ansari, reacted on X.
Contradictory priorities
Since Israel ended on March 18 to two months from a truce in the war launched by the unprecedented attack in Hamas on October 7, 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu ensures that an increased military pressure is the only way to force the Palestinian Islamist movement to make the hostages. But “for the vast majority of Israelis the return of hostages is the first moral priority of the nation”, hammered the forum of hostage families, Israeli organization of relatives of the captives, still deeming possible “to reach an agreement allowing to save lives and to prevent more human losses”. “Any intensification of fights will place hostages […] In an immediate danger, “warned the forum in a statement.
The two-month truce until mid-March allowed the return of 33 Israeli hostages, including eight dead, in exchange for the release of around 1,800 Palestinians held by Israel. But since March 18, Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip have been daily and the army has regained control of large sides of the territory it had evacuated. After improving during the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation of some 2.4 million Palestinians is again catastrophic.
The attack on Hamas commandos in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 led to the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most civilians, according to an AFP count based on official figures. Of the 251 people kidnapped that day, 58 are still retained in Gaza, 34 of which were declared dead by the Israeli army.
Israel has sworn to destroy Hamas, which took power in Gaza in 2007, and launched a military reprisal campaign having devastated the Gaza Strip and left at least 52,495 dead, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Ministry of Health of Hamas for Gaza, deemed reliable by the UN.
Mobilizations for the release of hostages
On Saturday evening, a few thousand Israelis once again gathered in Tel Aviv. “We want the hostages to come home [et] We do not believe that the war in Gaza today still has the slightest justification, “Arona Maskil, a 64 -year -old consultant, told AFP.
Before dawn, 11 Palestinians, including three young children were killed in an Israeli strike on the Khan Younès refugee camp, in the south of the Gaza Strip, according to help. The army confirmed, indicating that it has targeted “a Hamas terrorist”. In the light of torches, rescuers and civilians searched with bare hands in the rubble to extract victims, according to AFP images. One two leaves by carrying the inanimate body of a very young child.
Israel has submitted the Gaza Strip to a total blockade since March 2. In the absence of entry of the slightest humanitarian aid since that date, UN officials and NGOs are increasing warnings on a risk of famine.
