Pressure Mounts on Netanyahu Over Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure both internationally and domestically following the deaths of six hostages in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden has criticized Netanyahu, suggesting that he is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages.

On Monday, the British government announced it would suspend some arms exports to Israel, citing concerns that they could be used in violations of international humanitarian law. This decision was met with disappointment by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and was condemned by Netanyahu, who expressed regret for not being able to save the hostages and vowed that Hamas would “pay a very heavy price” for their actions. He also reiterated his refusal to make any concessions in ongoing ceasefire negotiations regarding Gaza.

Hamas, through its military wing’s spokesperson Abu Obeida, warned that remaining hostages would be returned “in coffins” if Israeli military pressure continues. Meanwhile, in Washington, Biden met with U.S. negotiators working with Qatar and Egypt to try to secure a deal that would release the remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. When asked if Netanyahu was doing enough to secure the hostages’ release, Biden simply replied, “No.”

Netanyahu also stated on Monday that Israel must maintain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border area between Gaza and Egypt, which has been a contentious issue in the negotiations. He emphasized that Hamas should be the one to make concessions, amid criticism that he is prolonging the conflict to stay in power.

The Israeli public is deeply affected by the news of the hostages’ deaths, with the military announcing that the bodies of six hostages captured during Hamas’s October 7 attack were found in southern Gaza. In response, the Histadrut trade union organized a strike on Monday to push for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages, leading to significant disruptions in parts of Israel.

Protesters in Tel Aviv and outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem demanded urgent action to secure the release of the remaining 97 hostages, including 33 who are believed to be dead. Some protestors held Netanyahu responsible for failing to bring them home, arguing that while Hamas is responsible for their capture, Netanyahu’s actions have not led to their release.

Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, only eight have been rescued alive by Israeli forces, while others were released during a one-week truce in November—the only truce so far in the conflict.

In Gaza, the war has left the territory in ruins, with the majority of its 2.4 million residents displaced. The ongoing conflict has led to a surge in disease outbreaks, including a confirmed case of polio, prompting a vaccination campaign in central Gaza. However, the fighting continues, with Israeli forces carrying out strikes and blowing up homes in Gaza City.

The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 40,786 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. Violence has also escalated in Israel’s border area with Lebanon and in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have launched a large-scale offensive. In the West Bank, at least 26 Palestinians have been killed since Wednesday, with further casualties reported in other areas.

Meanwhile, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed two people in a vehicle, adding to the tensions in the region.