Overview of the situation - Netanyahu will force concessions on Hamas
A little over a week before his planned trip to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned further pressure on the Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "The military pressure applied here is a chokehold on Hamas, and it helps us (...) in pushing forward the hostage deal," he said during a troops visit in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The double pressure, consisting of determined military action and unwavering insistence on our just demands, would not delay but rather advance an agreement for the release of 120 hostages held by Hamas in the custody of the Israeli authorities, Netanyahu added.
For months, indirect talks have been ongoing between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. They revolve around a three-tiered plan that involves the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and paving the way for a lasting ceasefire. Participants in the indirect talks have recently shown cautious optimism. However, no high-level meetings have been announced recently.
Explosion in Tel Aviv
Reports emerged in the media that there was a severe explosion in the night in the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. Witnesses reportedly heard a loud blast near a US embassy annex. Surrounding buildings were damaged. The cause of the explosion was initially unclear. Unconfirmed media reports suggested it could have been a drone attack. The Israeli Military is reportedly investigating the incident.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is expected to present a report today on the legality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
New Demands from the Prime Minister
The latest standstill in the indirect talks may have been caused by new demands from Netanyahu that were not part of the original plan. Among these demands are the permanent deployment of Israeli troops in strategic positions in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu recently demanded that Israeli forces ensure that no Hamas militants return from the south to the north of the territory. Israeli soldiers should also remain in parts of Rafah to control the border with Egypt.
During an unannounced troops visit on Thursday, Netanyahu reiterated his belief that Israel's control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah border crossing is crucial for the next phase in the fight against Hamas. "Israel's control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing is of decisive importance for the next phase in our struggle against Hamas," Netanyahu said in a video recording released by his office.
The Philadelphi Corridor is an approximately twelve-kilometer stretch that runs along the Gaza side of the border with Egypt. Israel believes that Hamas has been supplied with weapons, goods, and money through tunnels that run under the corridor. The Rafah border crossing to Egypt has been closed since May, when Israeli troops took control of its Gaza side. Egypt is firmly against the permanent presence of parts of Rafah under Israeli occupation.
In reference to high-ranking Israeli officials, journalist Barak Ravid wrote in the news portal "walla.co.il" that Egyptian and Qatari mediators wanted to know from Israel if Netanyahu's latest demands were "political" or substantial. In the coming days, Israeli negotiators were to travel to Doha and Cairo to convey Israel's true stance.
Netanyahu governs in a coalition with ultra-religious and right-wing partners who threaten to bring down the government if the prime minister makes concessions to Hamas. Early elections could cost Netanyahu his position. Legal proceedings due to alleged corruption could land him in prison.
Strategies for Retaining the Premiership
In the Prime Minister's Office, Ravid continues, one assures that Netanyahu is genuinely interested in a hostage agreement. At the same time, he has taken complete control of the related agendas, keeping all decisions to himself. Many officials are unsure if the premier is "buying time" or genuinely making progress.
Some believe Netanyahu does not want to bring a deal before the beginning of the summer recess of the Knesset, which starts at the end of July and lasts three months. During this period, a government collapse due to a withdrawal of ultra-right coalition partners would not be possible.
Trigger of the War
The massacre in Israel, carried out by Hamas and other terrorists on October 7, served as the catalyst for the conflict. They killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped around 250 more people into the Gaza Strip. According to reports from the Hamas-controlled health authorities, almost 39,000 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed since the war began. The number of civilians and combatants cannot be independently verified at this time.
Prime Minister's Speech before the US Congress
On the coming Wednesday, Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a speech to both houses of the US Congress on Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. The leaders of both parties in the American Parliament have invited Netanyahu. It is expected that he will also meet with US President Joe Biden, as confirmed by the Communications Director of the National Security Council, John Kirby, on Thursday. Biden and Netanyahu last met in person in Tel Aviv in the fall, shortly after the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Israel continued its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. In the Gaza Strip's Al-Saitun neighborhood, the army reportedly targeted several Hamas fighters who had used a UNRWA-abandoned building as a local headquarters.
Assassinations in Lebanon
The Israeli military reportedly killed a Hamas member active in Lebanon in the Bekaa Valley. The Palestinian militia confirmed the death of their "martyr," Mohammed Jabara. He was responsible for attacks and rocket attacks on Israel, according to the Israeli military. The man reportedly died when his vehicle was struck from the air and caught fire.
Later on Thursday evening, an Israeli air raid destroyed a house in the southern Lebanese village of Jammoumie. The commander of a local Hezbollah unit and three of his bodyguards were killed, according to Lebanese security sources. Hezbollah confirmed the death of their commander, Habib Matuk. Israel also confirmed the targeted killing of the Hezbollah man.
Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia have been engaging in near-daily battles since the beginning of the Gaza War. There have been casualties on both sides. The Iran-backed Hezbollah claims to be acting out of solidarity with Hamas, which is also active in Lebanon. It has long been feared that the conflict could spread.
Today's significance
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague will present a report today on the legality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Such a report is legally not binding. However, if the 15 highest UN judges in The Hague determine that Israel has violated international law, it can increase international political pressure on Israel. Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip after the Six-Day War in 1967.
The UN General Assembly had already tasked the ICC in 2022 with determining the legal consequences of Israel's occupation policy - long before the current Gaza War began in October 2023.
- The Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, expressed concerns about further pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, stating that military pressure serves as a chokehold on Hamas and aids in hostage negotiations.
- The hostage agreement talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have been ongoing for months, revolving around a three-tiered plan.
- Reports of an explosion in Tel Aviv surfaced, with witnesses reporting a blast near a US embassy annex, resulting in surrounding building damage.
- The International Criminal Court in The Hague is set to present a report on the legality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
- New demands from Netanyahu, including the permanent deployment of Israeli troops in strategic positions in the Gaza Strip and control over the Rafah crossing, may have contributed to the recent standstill in the talks.
- Journalist Barak Ravid reported that Egyptian and Qatari mediators sought clarification from Israel on whether Netanyahu's demands were "political" or substantial.
- The US Congress is scheduled to hear a speech from Prime Minister Netanyahu on Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, with both American party leaders inviting him and a meeting with President Biden confirmed.
- Israel continued its attacks in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, targeting Hamas fighters in Gaza and a Hamas member in Lebanon.
- Israeli forces reportedly carried out an attack in Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah commander and three of his bodyguards.
- The International Criminal Court's report on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, while not legally binding, can increase international political pressure on Israel if it determines Israel has violated international law.
- The UN General Assembly tasked the ICC with determining the legal consequences of Israel's occupation policy in 2022, long before the current Gaza War started in October 2023.
