Gaza War | Israel's war aim is expulsion
Due to the Israeli blockade of all aid deliveries to the more than two million residents of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place for over two months, NGOs and the United Nations are warning of further starvation deaths. Rik Peeperkorn of the World Health Organization (WHO) says that numerous young children, in particular, are already suffering long-term damage caused by unbalanced or irregular nutrition. While international aid organizations are calling for an immediate resumption of international aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials deny that there is a food shortage there.
Security Minister Itamar Ben Gwir, a coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wants to limit the distribution of food in the future to those willing to leave. Like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich , Ben Gwir has openly stated what he considers Israel's real war aim: the departure of as many Palestinians as possible from Gaza and the West Bank. Issa Amro, an activist from the city of Hebron, reports that those displaced from their homes in the West Bank are now being openly told that they don't need to return . "Go to Jordan," the settlers tell the refugees displaced from Jenin or Tulkarm, Issa told the "nd" newspaper over the phone.
Blockade of aid deliveries as a diversionary tacticThe activist considers the withholding of food for Gaza residents and the Israeli government's threat to occupy the entire Gaza Strip to be a diversionary tactic. "While diplomats are talking about a ceasefire for the completely devastated Gaza, settlements are quietly expanding in the West Bank," Issa complains. "For settlers and radicals like Smotrich and Ben Gwir, the two-state solution agreed upon in Oslo is history."
At least the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Monday provided proof that mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US can continue to use open channels of communication. According to diplomatic sources, Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Al-Thani negotiated directly with Hamas contacts to ensure Alexander's release before Donald Trump's arrival.
Another journalist killedThe Israeli army had briefly reduced its attacks on Monday afternoon, but was unwilling to accept the ceasefire demanded by Hamas. However, the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis on Tuesday morning demonstrated that Netanyahu is more committed than ever to the displacement of the civilian population. One of the two dead was Palestinian journalist Hassan Eslaih , and several doctors and nurses were injured.
Gaza residents are now eagerly awaiting talks between Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. The US president plans to continue his Gulf tour on Wednesday in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to billions of petrodollars invested in the US tech industry in exchange for security guarantees for the Gulf monarchies, the Gaza war is likely to be at the center of the talks.
"While diplomats are talking about a ceasefire for the completely devastated Gaza, settlements are quietly expanding in the West Bank."
Issa Amro activist from the city of Hebron
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called up tens of thousands of reservists last week and threatened a military occupation of the entire Gaza Strip . Netanyahu stated during a security cabinet meeting that they are now only looking for third countries that could accommodate Gaza's population. A return of the Palestinians expelled from their homes is off the table.
Many observers in the region see Trump's visit to the Gulf as a last chance for a new ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli government to prevent the announced ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas shows willingness to negotiateWith the release of the US-Israeli hostage, Hamas has demonstrated its willingness to negotiate. Netanyahu's coalition partners, however, have even rejected a resumption of aid deliveries. The blockade of humanitarian aid, which has now lasted for over two months, has led to the first deaths from starvation, complain international aid organizations and the United Nations.
After criticism from even close allies, Netanyahu now wants to supply food again, but this is to be done without the United Nations UNRWA mission or NGOs: Israel's right wing accuses them of collaborating with Hamas, as they allegedly diverted some aid deliveries to their fighters.
Trump ignores IsraelInternational criticism of Netanyahu's war-prolonging strategy has become so intense that Trump has refrained from making a brief solidarity visit to Jerusalem. He also remained silent about the ceasefire negotiations brokered by Qatar, likely out of fear that Netanyahu's determination to reduce the number of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank by any means necessary will significantly reduce his chances of securing lucrative deals with the Gulf monarchies.
During his first term in office, Trump's Middle East trip also included Jerusalem. Diplomatic sources in Washington report that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan insisted during his visit to Washington four weeks ago that Trump forgo a stopover in Israel this time.
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