Israel Strikes Gaza’s South; Hostage Families Plead with Netanyahu for Negotiations

On Monday, intense military action unfolded in Khan Younis, now a central battleground in the Gaza war, as Israeli forces conducted heavy bombardments. This escalation came amidst appeals from families of hostages held by Hamas for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate their release.

Overnight, Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip’s largest city, witnessed deadly assaults and intense combat involving Israeli troops and Hamas militants. Netanyahu has committed to a decisive triumph over Hamas, in response to the group’s October 7 attacks, which, as per AFP reports citing Israeli sources, led to approximately 1,140 deaths, predominantly among civilians. About 250 hostages were originally taken by Hamas militants, with around 132 reportedly still in Gaza under siege.

The conflict has raised concerns about regional instability, with alarms sounding again in northern Israel, close to the Lebanese border. Frequent clashes have occurred between Israeli forces and the Iran-supported Hezbollah group in Lebanon, with southern Lebanon also experiencing overnight attacks.

Amid this turmoil, violence has escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Additionally, Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked vessels linked to Israel in the critical Red Sea shipping lanes, leading to counterstrikes by the U.S. and the UK. In Syria and Iraq, Iran-affiliated militants have claimed responsibility for assaults, largely in opposition to U.S. backing of Israel.

Hamas, in its initial public statement on the war’s catalysts, admitted to some errors while calling for an end to Israeli actions in Gaza. The group justified the October 7 assaults as a response to Israeli occupation and a strategy to free Palestinian prisoners.

Israel’s response has been severe, with a campaign in Gaza resulting in at least 25,105 deaths, mainly women and children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. U.S. intelligence estimates, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, suggest that this offensive has eliminated about 20-30% of Hamas fighters but is yet to achieve its goal of dismantling the Islamist group.

Efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, who mediated a truce in November, are ongoing to persuade both Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal for the release of all hostages in return for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu insists on maintaining Israeli security control post-war, rejecting the concept of Palestinian sovereignty, despite recommendations from major ally the U.S. and others for a two-state solution to ensure Israel’s long-term security.

Pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to secure the hostages’ return and address security lapses linked to the October 7 attacks. Families and supporters of the hostages rallied near Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, demanding government action for their return.

Netanyahu, in a video statement following the Hamas report, said that Hamas’s demands for ending the war include withdrawing Israeli troops from Gaza, releasing Palestinian prisoners, and ensuring Hamas’s retention of power. He expressed concern that conceding to these demands would render the soldiers’ sacrifices futile and compromise security.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu planned to meet with families of Hamas hostages before discussions with Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The EU foreign ministers, supporting a two-state solution, were also set for separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives in Brussels, although a joint meeting between Israel Katz and Riyad al-Maliki was not anticipated.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with U.N. agencies warning of potential famine and disease. Gazans, with 1.7 million displaced, face shortages of water, medical care, and essentials amid continuous bombardment. On Sunday, 260 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza, a figure below pre-war levels.

Hamas’s leader Ismail Haniyeh, based in Qatar, discussed the conflict and humanitarian aid with Turkey’s foreign minister. Abdelrahmane Iyad, a Gaza resident injured and now treated aboard the French helicopter carrier Dixmude in Egypt, recounted his tragic experience of losing his family during an attack on his home.