Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Israel focused its operations on the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday in a war that is causing divisions with its American ally over disagreements over the creation of a Palestinian state.
First change: 01/20/2024 – 08:18
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Several witnesses reported bombings in the south of the strip, particularly in the Khan Younis sector, where Israeli forces suspect commandos from the Islamist movement Hamas are hiding.
Early Saturday, the health ministry of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said Israeli “attacks” had left at least 90 dead overnight.
According to this source, Israeli operations in Gaza left 24,762 dead, mostly women and minors, and more than 62,000 injured.
The conflict began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory by this Islamist group, which has been designated “terrorist” by the United States and the European Union.
Hamas militants killed 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped another 250, about a hundred of whom were released during a ceasefire in November, according to an AFP count based on Israel's official tally.
On Friday, relatives of the still-held hostages staged a protest outside the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding an agreement that would allow their release, according to local media.
“Almost everything destroyed”
In addition to its military operation, Israel has maintained a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip since October 9, imposing a virtually complete blockade on the flow of water, food, medicine and fuel.
The World Health Organization deplored the “inhumane living conditions” for the 2.4 million residents of this devastated area.
According to Enrico Vallaperta, who returned from a several-week mission in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), “almost everything is destroyed and what is not is overpopulated.”
UNICEF said on Friday that nearly 20,000 babies have been born in Gaza's “hell” since Israel's offensive began, while UN Women expressed concern at the number of “women and children” killed.
Despite calls from the UN and much of the international community for a ceasefire, Israel's prime minister said on Friday that the war would continue until the “elimination of the terrorist leaders” and “the return of the hostages to their homeland.”
Clash between Biden and Netanyahu
The United States, Israel's main ally and key supporter in this war against Hamas, has in recent weeks called for a reduction in civilian casualties in Gaza and defended the creation of a Palestinian state as a guarantee of security in the region.
Protesters with photos of Kfir Bibas, the latest hostage kidnapped by Hamas, and his family at a demonstration in Tel Aviv, January 18, 2024 © AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP
However, Netanyahu stated that Israel “must have control over the security of the entire area west of the Jordan,” which contradicts “the idea” of a Palestinian state.
The Prime Minister spoke by telephone with US President Joe Biden about the feasibility of this “two-state” solution.
After the conversation, the first in nearly a month, Biden “still believes in the prospect and possibility” of a Palestinian state but “recognizes that it will take a lot of work to get there,” said John Kirby, White's spokesman house.
European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell stressed that the “two-state solution must be imposed from outside to bring peace” and accused Netanyahu of “boycotting” this path.
“To prevent this, they founded Hamas themselves. “Hamas was funded by the Israeli government to try to weaken Fatah’s Palestinian Authority,” he continued.
The conflict in Gaza is increasing tensions between Israel and armed groups in the region that are supported by Iran, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthis.
The Israeli army said it had attacked Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed three attacks in the opposite direction and promised Israel “a real setback” if it decided to “expand its aggression.”
In Yemen, the US again bombed Houthi rebel positions after claiming responsibility for an attack on an American oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
© 2024 AFP