In Israel, people’s anger against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at its peak. On Saturday, Hamas killed 6 Israeli hostages and Israeli soldiers recovered their bodies from a tunnel in Gaza. As soon as the news of the killing of 6 hostages came, millions of people in Israel took to the streets against Netanyahu and are demanding a deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages. Along with domestic pressure, US pressure is also increasing on Netanyahu. Despite this, Netanyahu has refused to back down from the war against Hamas and has said that he will not lay down arms under pressure.
The Israeli army said in a statement on Saturday that it has recovered the bodies of six hostages from a ground tunnel in the Rafah area in southern Gaza. All these people were taken hostage during the attack on Israel on October 7. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagar said that Hamas killed the hostages just before we reached them.
On Monday, Netanyahu apologized for not being able to save the hostages. He said that those who killed the hostages do not want to make any compromise. Hamas will have to pay a very heavy price for what it has done.
Netanyahu’s critics say he is not making any compromise with Hamas to save his political credibility, due to which hostages are being killed.
While the US is talking about a ceasefire after the bodies of the hostages were found, Britain has suspended the export license of some weapons to Israel, which includes fighter planes, helicopters and drone parts.
Protests continue on Wednesday as well
Protests continue in Israel on Wednesday as well. The families of the hostages continue to protest outside the headquarters of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party. They demand that the government make a deal with Hamas as soon as possible and bring back their loved ones alive.
The protesters were seen raising anti-government slogans and one of their posters read, ‘The Cabinet of Death (Netanyahu’s Cabinet) is killing the hostages. Our demand is, bring the hostages back alive.’
Netanyahu is not budging from his stubbornness
The border area between Egypt and Gaza, called the Philadelphi Corridor, remains important in the ongoing talks between Hamas and Israel regarding ceasefire. Hamas supplies weapons etc. through this corridor and it is very important for the Palestinian fighter organization.
Israel took control of this area in May and now a large number of Israeli soldiers are deployed here. One of Hamas’ demands in the agreement with Israel is that Israel should withdraw its soldiers from this area. But even after the death of 6 hostages, Netanyahu is not agreeing to this.
Netanyahu said on Monday night that Israeli soldiers will not retreat from the Philadelphia Corridor. He said that if Israeli soldiers leave their occupation of the area, Israel could be attacked again in the future.
But meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper ‘The Times of Israel’ has given a big news. According to the newspaper, Israel has assured Qatar that in the second phase of the ceasefire, the Israeli army will completely withdraw from the IDF Philadelphia corridor.
There is another issue standing in the way of ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Israel says that it wants the right to restart the fighting in the ceasefire agreement so that it can finish off Hamas. On the other hand, Hamas says that it will not agree to any agreement until a permanent ceasefire is reached.
Netanyahu furious over Britain’s move
Britain has cancelled 30 of the 350 arms export licences given to Israel. The British government says that it fears that these weapons can be used to violate international humanitarian laws. On Monday, Britain’s Foreign Minister Devil Lammy told Parliament that these weapons can be used in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, so their export licences are being suspended.
The Israeli Prime Minister has reacted sharply to this ban by Britain. He said, ‘Whether Britain gives us weapons or not, Israel will win the war and secure our common future.’
He called Britain’s move shameful and said, ‘Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democratic country is protecting itself against barbarism… This move by Britain will only encourage Hamas.’
Hamas took more than 100 people hostage in the Israeli attack on October 7. Hamas still has more than 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens.
Hamas threatens, ‘…otherwise the hostages will go back to the coffins’
Hamas has threatened Israel that if it does not give up its stubbornness, the remaining hostages will also go back to their country in coffins. Hamas said in a statement, ‘The fighters guarding the prisoners have been given new instructions. They have been told what to do with them before the Israeli army reaches the hostages’ location.’
Hamas said in a statement that only the Israeli government and army will be responsible for the death of the hostages. Hamas further said, ‘If Netanyahu uses military pressure instead of an agreement, then the hostages will return to their country in coffins. Now their families have to choose whether they want the hostages alive or dead.’
US pressure mounts on Netanyahu
US President Joe Biden says that Netanyahu is not trying his best to reach an agreement or ceasefire for the release of the hostages. The US, along with Qatar and Egypt, is negotiating with Hamas for the release of the hostages. The talks are on about the release of the hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Biden has met with US negotiators and said that an agreement with Hamas could be reached soon. Meanwhile, reporters asked Biden if PM Netanyahu was trying his best to release the hostages, to which the US President replied, ‘No.’
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