Israel swears USA in for long Gaza war – The night at a glance
Published: Friday, Dec 15th 2023, 06:21
Updated At: Friday, Dec 15th 2023, 06:21
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Israel is coming under increasing pressure from the USA to show more consideration for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, but at the same time is swearing its ally to a very long war. US President Joe Biden said to Israel on Thursday (local time): "I want them to focus on how they can save civilian lives. They should not stop pursuing Hamas, but be more careful". At a meeting with the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Tel Aviv, Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant nevertheless made it clear that the war would last "more than a few months" - until the Islamist Hamas was completely destroyed.
Netanyahu: Continue the war until absolute victory
The terrorist organization has built an "underground and above-ground infrastructure that is not easy to destroy", Galant told Sullivan. Following the meeting, Sullivan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the other members of the war cabinet. According to his office, Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel would continue the war against Hamas "until absolute victory". Following Sullivan's talks, the US government now expects a transition from the "high-intensity" Israeli ground offensive to "more targeted" operations.
This is an issue for "sometime in the near future", said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby in Washington on Thursday. "I don't want to commit to a specific date." He also said that Islamist Hamas would not be told what to expect in the coming weeks or months. Kirby did not say what such a military operation might look like and referred to the Israeli government.
Army spokesman: Killing terrorists in the tunnels
An Israeli army spokesman gave a brief insight into what Hamas is facing. "We have new combat methods that we will use to kill terrorists," explained Daniel Hagari on Thursday evening. Hamas terrorists, and especially their leaders, were hiding in their underground tunnels. "We will infiltrate, plant explosives in places we know the terrorists frequent, and wait for the right moment to kill them underground," Hagari said. "The terrorists will not be safe underground.
Report: Tests to flood the tunnels successful
According to US media reports, Israel's army has also tested flooding the tunnels. Seawater was pumped into some of the tunnels to find out whether the method was suitable for the large-scale destruction of the tunnel network. As the "Times of Israel" has now reported on the tests, "they appear to have been successful". The tunnels extend over many kilometers. According to Israel, a number of terrorists are hiding in them and are also holding hostages from Israel. In order to withstand Israeli bombs from the air, some tunnels extend dozens of meters underground. Many tunnels are booby-trapped to kill Israeli soldiers.
US security advisor holds further talks
Meanwhile, US Security Advisor Sullivan is planning a meeting with Israeli President Izchak Herzog on Friday morning. According to a US government representative, he also wants to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on the same day. Looking ahead to the end of the war and the future of the Gaza Strip, the US government representative spoke of a "number of security forces affiliated with the Palestinian Authority", he told US officials. These could "kind of form a core" in the months after the war. "But that's something we're discussing with the Palestinians and the Israelis and with regional partners," he continued.
The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups in Israel on October 7. More than 1,200 people were killed and around 240 hostages were taken to Gaza. Israel responded with massive air strikes and began a ground offensive at the end of October. According to the latest information from Hamas, around 18,700 people have been killed in attacks in the Gaza Strip to date.
Army: Another hostage's body recovered from Gaza Strip
In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel has recently come under increasing international pressure - including from the USA. Meanwhile, Israel continues to worry about the hostages still being held by Hamas. Israel's military announced on Friday morning that the body of another hostage had been recovered. The dead body was brought back to Israel and identified there. According to the report, the hostage was a 28-year-old man. The army did not initially provide any information on the cause of death.
The army last stated that 135 people were still being held in Gaza. It is unclear whether this includes the hostages who have since been declared dead. Israeli soldiers have already recovered several bodies in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Gaza war. A total of 105 hostages were recently released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas. In exchange, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
"We will continue to do everything - everything - to bring all the hostages home," said army spokesman Hagari. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called on the Red Cross to exert more pressure to gain access to Hamas hostages. "You have every opportunity, every right and every expectation to exert public pressure on Hamas," said Netanyahu at a meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, in Tel Aviv. He presented her with a package of medicines and called on the ICRC to "fulfill its mission and deliver them to the hostages in Gaza".
What will be important on Friday
US Security Advisor Sullivan wants to meet with Israeli President Izchak Herzog on Friday. He also wants to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on the same day. Meanwhile, UN aid organizations in Geneva are providing information on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
©Keystone/SDA
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