By: Nathan Chen
Israelis marked the nine month since the October 7 Hamas-led attack and the ensuing Gaza War with nationwide protests for a cease-fire and new elections. Many intersections and highways were blocked, where demonstrators called for the return of the hostages and political change.
Over the past few days, the two sides have moved closer to negotiating. Even so, the fighting continued in Gaza and, more recently, along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Many Israelis are concerned that both Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are going to sabotage cease-fire efforts.
Tensions surfaced within Netanyahu’s party himself while a cabinet meeting was underway. The Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated that the deal is being politicized. The northern frontier remains inflamed with Kitty rockets and other UAVs the Lebanese-based armed group, Hezbollah, fired and the Israeli military responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon.
In Gaza, a mass strike near the United Nations school in Nuseirat, operated by the UN, killed at least 16 people, and many more were wounded. This incident was tragic because the school was housing displaced people. On its part, the Israeli military also accused Hamas of operating in civilian areas as it continued to launch new strikes in Gaza City, Rafah, Shajaiye, and Khan Younis.
Sunday’s protests, a “Day of Disturbance,” began with demonstrations outside lawmakers’ homes and culminated in rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Though negotiations brokered by the U.S. and Arab countries have dragged on for several days, there’s still no cease-fire deal. Israel insists it must have the option to resume the fighting to achieve its war aims. A Netanyahu aide said he remained committed to those principles, pointing to divisions within Israel over the government’s handling of the war and a potential cease-fire agreement.
Sources:
Israelis Call for a Cease-Fire Deal and Elections After 9 Months of War – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Image Credit by Mohammed Abubakr