Israeli authorities authorize the seizure of Gaza, as 60,000 reserve soldiers are summoned.
In a move that could further escalate tensions, Israel's right-wing extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced settlement plans in the E1 area, a step that he claims finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state. The decision comes as Israel prepares for a potential large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, with the mobilization of up to 130,000 reservists and the extension of service for around 20,000 more soldiers.
The operation in Gaza aims to destroy Hamas's underground tunnel system, a key component of the Islamic terrorist organization's military capabilities. The announcement of the settlement plans has been met with international criticism, with several countries, including France, Canada, and Australia, expressing their intention to recognize a Palestinian state next month.
The latest ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip is an updated version of the previously negotiated proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff. This proposal provides for a 60-day ceasefire during which ten living hostages are to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, the ongoing violence and the controversial settlement plans have cast doubts on the prospects of a peaceful resolution.
Israeli troops are already present in suburbs of the city of Gaza, including the neighborhoods of Al-Saitun and Djabalija. The civilian population in the city, estimated to be around one million people, is to move to tent quarters further south in the coastal strip during the offensive.
The construction of around 3,400 housing units is planned in the E1 area, a move that has been criticized by Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul as contrary to international law and making a two-state solution impossible. The E1 area, located between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim, would effectively divide the West Bank into a northern and a southern part.
The violence in the Gaza Strip has taken a heavy toll on the Palestinian civilian population. Since the start of the Gaza war, more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority. Almost all residents of the coastal strip have become internal refugees since the start of the war almost two years ago.
The latest escalation in the conflict began after Hamas's military arm claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli military post in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of ten attackers and injury of three soldiers. Israel has rejected recognition as a "reward for Hamas" following the massacre on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.
At least 20 of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. The fate of these hostages and the future of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip remain uncertain as the situation continues to evolve.
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