Location at an overview: Criticism of Israel’s Gaza offensive – new negotiations

Israel’s new major offensive in the Gaza Strip against Islamist Hamas is affected by criticism and concern internationally. The beginning of a new soil offensive is the reason “too deeply concern” – both with a view to the strategic goals of Israel and the humanitarian situation in the coastal area, said a spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. EU Council President António Costa showed himself “shocked” and appealed to both parties to the conflict on platform X: “Violence must stop!”

UN General Secretary: Location in Gaza more than inhumane

“The Israeli government must now cancel the blockade and ensure the safe, fast and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid,” said Costa. “An entire people are attacked with overwhelming, disproportionate military violence. International law is systematically violated.” A permanent ceasefire and “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” are more urgent than ever. UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres wrote that the situation for the Palestinians in Gaza was more than inhuman. The blockade of humanitarian aid “must be ended immediately”.

Israel’s military had announced the start of a new major attack in Gaza the night before. It has started to “carry out extensive attacks and mobilize troops in order to obtain operational control in areas of the Gaza Strip”. According to Palestinian information, numerous people have been killed and injured since then. The information from the Palestinian area could initially not be checked independently.

Israel’s Minister of Defense: Hamas wants to negotiate

According to the Israeli government, the new major offensive already has an effect. “With the start of the” Gideon’s Chariots “operation in the Gaza Strip, which is carrying out the army with great strength, the Hamas delegation in Doha announced a return to the negotiations on a hostage agreement,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz. The Islamist organization confirmed a new round of talks with Israel in the Qatarian capital Doha.

Negotiations under Catar and US mediation take place without preconditions and were not based on previous Israeli suggestions, said high-ranking official Mahmud Mardawi. However, there are still many issues. Even if Hamas offers to released more hostages, Israel will not end the war, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently emphasized. A temporary ceasefire is possible, but not a permanent end to the fights.

Relatives fear for fate of hostages

The relatives fear that this could mean death for the remaining hostages. In several cities of Israel, people again took to the streets and demanded the release of the deported.

According to Israeli information, at least 20 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. The status of three other kidnapped is unclear. In addition, the remains of 35 abducted are located in the coastal area. Unletted Israeli and Arab media reports, a one to two-month fire break is under discussion in Doha. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meanwhile called Netanyahu on the phone.

Both spoke about the situation in Gaza and their joint efforts to release all remaining hostages, said a spokeswoman for the US State Department. The United States is Israel’s most important arms supplier. Most recently, however, it was unclear whether the negotiations in the Qatarian capital burst again and deduct the delegations from Israel and Hamas.

The Gaza War triggered was the worst massacre in the history of Israel, which Hamas and other terrorist groups had committed on October 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were dragged into the Gaza strip as hostages. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 53,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war. The number does not differentiate between fighters and civilians and can hardly be checked independently.