New Information Regarding the Middle East Conflict
Netanyahu States His Determination to Push into Rafah
By E. Thompson
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just recently declared that, regardless of the current truce negotiations in Egypt, his government remains resolute in its decision to advance into the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This is in order to destroy tunnels that are used by Hamas for weaponry smuggling and militant infiltration into Israel.
The Israeli military carried out airstrikes on over 40 alleged militant targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. According to Palestinian health officials, there were three fatalities, although all three were militants.
Following a night of violence in southern Israel, where rockets were fired and militants attempted to infiltrate Israel through a tunnel, Netanyahu made this statement. According to Israeli military sources, two of the four Hamas militants who tried to enter Israel were killed in the incident, while the other two were apprehended.
Netanyahu said that We can’t allow the situation in the south to continue like this. We won’t accept a ceasefire that doesn’t enable our troops to implement the necessary steps to neutralize the tunnels. He also stated that Israel would not be bound by the ceasefire if Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets.
Diplomats from both sides were negotiating in Cairo in an effort to reach a sustainable truce after days of the deadliest violence in the Gaza Strip since the 2014 conflict. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that controls Gaza, has said that it will not accept a truce unless Israel lifts its blockade of the territory.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 200 Palestinians and at least 45 Israelis since it began on July 8.
The UN has condemned the airstrikes and called for an immediate ceasefire. The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East in the coming days.
We are deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the region and call on both sides to exercise restraint and to respect international humanitarian law, a UN spokesperson said.
We urge all parties to return to the negotiating table and reach a lasting ceasefire that will bring peace and security to the region.
The United States has pressed for a ceasefire but has stopped short of openly criticizing Israel’s military actions.
We are concerned about the loss of life on both sides and urge all parties to avoid further escalation, a US State Department spokesperson said.
We support Israel’s right to defend itself, but we also believe that all sides need to work towards a sustainable ceasefire that will bring peace and security to the region.
Here is a summary of the key points:
- Netanyahu says Israel will advance into Rafah regardless of truce negotiations.
- Israeli airstrikes kill three militants in Gaza.
- Two Hamas militants killed in attempted infiltration of Israel.
- Diplomats from both sides negotiate in Cairo.
- UN condemns airstrikes and calls for immediate ceasefire.
- US urges all parties to avoid further escalation.
Kind regards
E. Thompson.
