Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has predicted that it will take months to destroy Hamas, stating that it will require a period of time and that it will not be easy to destroy the militant group. This comes as the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met with Israeli leaders to discuss a timetable for winding down major combat in Gaza. Despite increasing international isolation and alarm over the devastation from the campaign in Gaza, the US has continued to offer wholehearted support for Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing.
The Biden administration has shown unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza, but has not taken steps to pressure Israel to change its approach. The Palestinian Authority has called on the US to take a more firm stance, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh saying “Now that the United States has talked the talk, we want Washington to walk the walk.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to spiral out of control, with 80% of the population of 2.3 million displaced from their homes and forced to shelter in areas with inadequate facilities. Tensions have risen in recent days as Israel’s air and ground assault has killed over 18,700 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with thousands more missing and feared dead. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it is clear that thousands of innocent people have been caught in the crossfire.
Yoav Gallant (Via Yoav Gallant/Twitter)
The Israeli military has released footage of Israeli troops leading men with their hands above their heads out of a damaged building, which they claim was a Hamas command center. However, the Palestinian Health Ministry and UN officials have disputed this, claiming that the building was a hospital and that weapons were brought in by the Israeli military. The detention of hospital staff and patients has added to the growing outrage over Israel’s actions.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with Palestinians forced to live in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and access to basic necessities such as food, water, and sanitation severely limited. The UN has warned of a “catastrophic” situation, with thousands of people trapped in the midst of the fighting. As the war drags on, it seems increasingly unlikely that a peaceful solution will be found, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will only continue to worsen.
