The weekend marks the end of the ceasefire and the resumption of fighting, at the end of the ten days allotted for the implementation of the deal for the release of women and children held captive by Hamas.
Galant: "Residents living 7-4 times from the Gaza Strip will be able to return home starting in January" // Photo: Shahar Yurman
This evening there is expected to be another phase of the release of hostages from captivity. The last phase is supposed to be on Saturday night, in accordance with the terrorist organization's desire to exhaust the release of all the terrorists allocated by Israel to the deal, as well as the days of pause in order to prepare and prepare for fighting.
IDF activity in the Gaza Strip, photo: IDF Spokesperson
This week, a political source rejected out of hand the possibility of a deal that would end the fighting without achieving the goal of destroying Hamas, but such a deal under more favorable conditions for Israel could return under fire when Hamas reaches the moment of surrender.
Yesterday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel. After his meetings with the president, prime minister and war cabinet ministers, those present said that the United States demanded that Israel resume fire with humanitarian restrictions and conditions of non-harm to civilians, which would make it difficult for IDF fighters to reach their targets. A source familiar with the details of the talks told Israel Hayom that Netanyahu must not accede positively to American demands that would lead to what would be perceived as a loss in the campaign.
Don't give in to demands
The murderous terrorist group had a "victory party" celebrated on 7 October with the murder and massacre of more than 1,200 civilians, children and babies. If he accepts the deal that Qatar, his landlord, is trying to weave with Israel, which will lead to the release of thousands of terrorists and the reconstruction of Gaza, he will inevitably be declared the winner of the war, while Israel's enemies will calculate their steps accordingly.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, photo: Gideon Markowitz
So far, the question of whether October 7 was an Israeli mishap or a given situation is still in question in Lebanon, among the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, and also in Iran. If Israel does not lead to the surrender of Hamas and its leaders, it invites itself to launch the next attack.
Shuffling will damage the image
Netanyahu, for his part, has pledged time and time again this week that he will seek to renew the war in accordance with the demands of the fighters and the people, but if he faces war against American restrictions and prolonged stagnation in Gaza, Israel will be perceived as weak. Only a significant entry into the battlefield, like the first move carried out by Israel, can guarantee to restore our image of the small and powerful country in the Middle East.
Last night, Gallant made it clear that "we must be prepared for a rapid transition to full combat at any point in time, today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, at any moment. As soon as we exhaust the process of returning hostages, we will return to intense fighting throughout the Gaza Strip. The squadrons must be prepared to carry out their mission in all arenas, with an emphasis on the Gaza Strip. When we resume fighting, we will do so with all our might."
"We will continue to fight with all our might." Galant in the Air Force Pit, Photo: Ariel Hermoni Ministry of Defense
On the ground, IDF soldiers are expected to have a ready and organized enemy after ten days of organizing – Hamas mapped the situation, connected its communication capabilities and collected intelligence about our soldiers, and not necessarily for the purpose of "searching for abductees" as written in the agreement.
If Hamas accepts the deal that Qatar, its landlord, is trying to weave with Israel, which will lead to the release of thousands of terrorists and the reconstruction of Gaza, it will be declared victorious, and Israel's enemies will calculate their steps accordingly
The momentum that the Israeli war machine had ten days ago was halted in favor of the achievement of returning women and children, but it also had a price that will become clear in the coming days.
During the previous night, additional negotiations were held with Qatar and Egypt in order to enable the eighth phase of the release of the hostages on the proposed list. Negotiations in a more formal form, as were held this week between the Mossad chief and his counterparts on the next deal to release men and soldiers, are expected to come to a halt when fighting resumes earlier this week. As Defense Minister Galant put it, when he clarified that any negotiations can take place only during the lull and no additional days will be allocated for this.
Only a significant entry into the battlefield, like Israel's first move, can guarantee to restore our image of the smallest and strongest country in the Middle East
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