Netanyahu's Gaza Control Announcement Sparks Fresh Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will assume overall security responsibility in Gaza for an indefinite period, indicating the country's intentions to maintain control over the region where 2.3 million Palestinians reside. This announcement comes amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.

Prime Minister Netanyahu made this announcement during an interview with a news channel, where he mentioned that the intermittent ceasefires with Hamas were primarily to facilitate the release of more than 20 Israeli captives held by the group since the October 7th attack into Israel.

Netanyahu argued that Gaza should be governed by those who do not support the path taken by Hamas, emphasising Israel's need to maintain security control due to the consequences witnessed when that control is absent. Over the past week, the Israeli military has reported the loss of 30 troops during ground offensives.

The Israeli leader firmly ruled out a general ceasefire with Hamas without the release of the hostages. In addition to this, the White House announced that there is no agreement between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu for a broader humanitarian pause, following a phone call between the two leaders.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on Gaza's population, with the Health Ministry of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip reporting over 10,000 deaths, including 4,100 children, as a result of Israeli attacks. The ministry also estimates that more than 2,30,000 people are missing and believed to be buried under the debris of destroyed buildings.

The ongoing Israeli offensive is a response to the October 7th attack by Hamas, during which the militant group fired over 7,000 missiles into Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 people and the capture of 240 individuals. Following this attack, the Israeli Prime Minister stated his intention to eradicate Hamas.

Israeli armed forces have been engaged in fierce battles with Hamas militants in Gaza for over a week. They claim to have gained control over half of the city and have effectively encircled it. Thousands of residents remain in the northern part of the city, potentially facing further assaults, although the Israeli military maintains that a one-way corridor for evacuating residents remains open.

Reports from residents of northern Gaza indicate heavy fighting in the city's outskirts, with refugee camps coming under heavy bombardment from both air and sea.

The extensive air strikes have left city blocks in ruins, leading to a mass exodus of the Palestinian population, with approximately 70% of residents fleeing their homes. Many people have followed Israeli government orders to head to the southern part of the controlled territory.

The conflict has also raised tensions between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, with increased firing along the borders. The Israeli forces' actions in the occupied West Bank have also resulted in casualties, with four Palestinian men, including two high-ranking militants, shot to death in a vehicle.

Israel claims that Hamas and other militant groups continue to fire rockets into Israel, posing threats and disrupting daily life. In response, thousands of people have been evacuated from areas near the volatile borders with Gaza and Lebanon.

Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967, defeating Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. The conflict has sparked international concerns, with humanitarian workers stating that the aid delivered to Gaza by Egypt since October 21 falls far short of the casualties and the needs of the population. Egypt has also allowed foreign passport holders and medical patients to leave Gaza during the ongoing crisis.

Israeli officials have expressed their primary aim as eradicating Hamas from Gaza while emphasising that they do not intend to re-occupy the territory. In 2005, Israel completely withdrew its citizens and soldiers from Gaza City, leaving it under the complete control of Hamas.