Location at an overview: Israel calls for pressure on Hamas – warnings of gaza intake

While Israel calls for more international pressure on the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas before the UN Security Council, reports on the possible intake of the Gaza Strip by Israel trigger. Such a step could have “catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians” and further endanger the life of the remaining hostages in Gaza, warned the UN diplomat Miroslav Jenca in New York. Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused countries that recently announced Palestine’s recognition as a state of having a ceasefire agreement.

“Let me make it clear: these countries have extended the war,” said Saar at a meeting of the UN Security Council at a meeting requested by Israel. Most recently, France and Canada had announced that they recognize Palestine as a state. Great Britain also threatened with such a step if the Israeli government was not to end the Gaza War and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.

Israel: International pressure must be on Hamas

With its massacre of October 7, 2023 in Israel, the Hamas not only bears the responsibility for the beginning of the war, but also for its ongoing, because it does not release the hostages and does not lay down the weapons, said Saar. “The international pressure must be on Hamas,” said the Foreign Minister in the most powerful UN committee. “Everything else only extends this war.”

The Islamists specifically use torture and hunger as propaganda, said Saar and referred to shocking Hamas videos from emaciated hostages. The responsible UN representative Jenca condemned the treatment of the hostages and confirmed the united nations’ demand for their unconditional release. At the same time, Jenca pointed to the catastrophic situation, in which there were more than two million people in the Gaza Strip because of the foreclosure of the coastal area by the Israeli forces. According to the UN, people in Gaza threatens to famine.

Compassion for hostages – but also criticism of Israel

Most representatives in the UN Security Council declared their sympathy with the Israeli hostages at the meeting, but also pointed out to the warfare of Israel with tens of thousands of civilians killed. Some diplomats called for an end to the war and the blockade of Gaza. The Palestinian UN ambassador Riad Mansur appealed to Israel to enter into negotiations. Although he condemned the Hamas October massacre that Israel’s warfare could not justify this act.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advised Army Read Ejal Zamir about how to proceed. Zamir presented possible options for the continuation of the war that has been going on for 22 months, said Netanyahu’s office. According to Israeli media, the complete intake of the sealed Gaza Strip was not among the options set out by the chief of staff.

Reports of plans for taking all of Gazas

On Monday, several Israeli media had reported that Netanyahu penetrates the Gaza Strip in full despite the objection of military leadership. However, the Israeli security cabinet would first have to approve such a plan. As the TV broadcaster N12 now reported, the committee is scheduled to come together on Thursday.

So far, Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the plans. After the consultation with chief of staff Zamir, Netanyahu tends to take the coastal strip after consultation with the chief of staff – although the government is aware that such a procedure is likely to endanger the hostages there. According to Israeli assessment, there are currently 20 living hostages in the violence of Hamas.

According to media reports, there are great concerns in the army leadership of expanding the fights and taking the Gaza Strip completely, also because this can take years. In the message of the Netanyahu office, it was now said: “The army is ready to implement all decisions of the security cabinet.”

Opposition leader Jair Lapid warned the government against having Gaza fully taken. “What is heading for the cabinet and government will lead to all hostages die,” he wrote on the X. They would be tortured, tortured or died of the Israeli military.

For months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas about a deal for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages have so far been unsuccessful.

“I understand exactly what Hamas wants. She doesn’t want a deal,” said Netanyahu a few days ago after the shocking hostage videos were published by the terrorist organization. He was now even more determined to free the hostages and eliminate Hamas. The forum of the hostage families then criticized Netanyahu. “The public has been selling the public for 22 months that military pressure and intensive fights will bring the hostages back,” said the “Times of Israel” in an explanation.

Debate in Lebanon about disarmament of the HISBOLLAH

Meanwhile, in Israel’s northern neighboring country Lebanon, the debate about a disarmament of the HISBOLLAH militia supported by Iran. The Hisbollah is open to discussions about the dismantling of its arsenal of weapons, but does not want to agree to any specific schedule as long as Israel continues to lead attacks in Lebanon and its troops are not deducted. This was confirmed by Hisbollah General Secretary Naim Kassim. After a session of the cabinet on the subject, it was said that the discussion about it should be postponed to next week.

According to the agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and the Hisbollah, which came into force at the end of November, the militia is to be disarmed in the south of the country and near the border with Israel. The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nauaf Salam as well as the United States and Israel, call for the Hisbollah to hand over its weapons to the army. However, the demand to disarm the organization across the country is political explosives.

The Hisbollah has hundreds of thousands of supporters and still great influence in the region, especially in the Shiite community. If the cabinet made a decision about its disarmament, members of the militia – which is also a political party – could leave the government in protest. There are fears that this could plunge the Lebanon into the next crisis.