Starting Thursday, Israel's Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and military commanders hinted at a "soon-to-come" ground offensive in Gaza. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Gantz unveiled a three-phase plan for military operations in Gaza.
That same day, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees received a notice from Israel to evacuate five of its schools in Gaza. These signals all point to an impending intensified ground assault.
However, U.S. media reports suggest that both the U.S. and Europe are pressuring Israel to delay its ground offensive in Gaza, allowing time for Qatar to negotiate with Hamas over hostages. Later on Friday, Hamas released an American mother and daughter, the first hostages to be freed since the onset of this conflict.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 5,800 casualties on both sides. In an effort to prevent further escalation, Egypt plans to convene a peace summit on Saturday, urging both parties in the Gaza conflict to cease fire. Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE will attend, but invited European Union nations are divided on participation.
While the EU officially supports Israel, emphasizing its right to self-defense, media leaks reveal that over 800 EU staff and diplomats have co-signed a letter criticizing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her "blind" support of Israel. Similarly, U.S. State Department staff are drafting a "dissent cable" to protest the Biden administration's stance on the Gaza conflict.
Hostages Released by Hamas
On Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the arrival of two hostages released by Hamas. The freed individuals, a mother and daughter from Chicago, were abducted by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7.
A spokesperson for Hamas stated that the hostages were released for humanitarian reasons after mediation by Qatar, aiming to prove to Americans and the world that the Biden administration's accusations against Hamas are unfounded.
After several days of negotiations, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the hostages were handed over to the International Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Qatar will continue dialogues with Israel and Hamas to seek the release of "all civilian hostages" from every nation, with the ultimate goal of restoring peace in Gaza.
Israel estimates that Hamas has abducted at least 203 individuals during its early-month raids, including citizens from the U.S., UK, and France. Among them, over 20 are young people and children, and 10 to 20 are seniors over 60.
Bloomberg, citing insiders, reported that the U.S. and European governments are pressuring Israel to delay its ground offensive in Gaza to buy time for the release of more hostages by Hamas.
Israel's Combat Plan
On Friday, during a meeting of Israel's parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Defense Minister Gantz disclosed Israel's combat plan against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Gantz clarified that the military operation aims to eliminate Hamas by targeting its military and governance capabilities. The operation is divided into three phases.
The first phase involves airstrikes, followed by a ground offensive to eradicate armed forces and infrastructure, thereby defeating Hamas. Israel is currently in the first, and most intense, phase of the operation.
The second phase will continue the combat at a reduced intensity to clear out scattered resistance. The third phase will establish new "security mechanisms" in the Gaza Strip, with Israel no longer responsible for its daily operations, creating a safer environment for Israelis and residents around Gaza.
Internal Disagreements in the West
As Israel's ground offensive in Gaza looms, Egypt plans to host a peace summit on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire from both sides.
Leaders from major Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq, as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, will attend the summit. However, Israel's main ally, the U.S., and Hamas supporter Iran will not participate.
Regarding participation, European leaders have expressed varying stances. Leaders from Italy, Greece, and Cyprus will attend, along with European Council President Charles Michel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
French President Macron has yet to confirm attendance, the UK is sending Foreign Secretary Liz Truss instead of Prime Minister Sunak, and German Chancellor Scholz and European Commission President von der Leyen will be absent.
Some European leaders are hesitant due to the draft declaration of the Egyptian peace summit, which calls for a ceasefire without mentioning Israel's right to self-defense or specifically criticizing Hamas.
This week, the UN Security Council voted on a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. vetoed the resolution, criticizing it for not mentioning Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution, which also condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel, received affirmative votes from countries like France, UAE, and Switzerland, while the UK abstained.
Despite the EU's official stance supporting Israel, divergent voices are emerging within European nations. Spain's Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra Urteaga, participated in a Madrid street protest, calling for Israel to halt its attacks on Palestinians.
On Wednesday, Urteaga called for Spain to sever diplomatic ties with Israel in protest against what she termed Israel's "genocide" against Palestinians. She urged the Spanish government to initiate discussions within the EU to economically sanction parties committing "genocide."
Within the U.S. government, similar sentiments are arising. An anonymous official told the Huffington Post that morale within the State Department is low due to the U.S. government's stance on the Gaza conflict. Staff and diplomats are preparing a "dissent cable" to protest U.S. actions regarding Gaza through internal channels.
After the release of the two American hostages, Netanyahu stated that Israel will continue its efforts to free all hostages, "while we will continue to fight until victory."
Israel's Future Plans for Gaza
Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel and Egypt have maintained a long-term blockade. Israel controls Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, has erected a barrier wall on land, and controls the movement of people and goods through land crossings.
Before the current conflict, only two of the original six land crossings between Israel and Gaza were operational. A limited number of Palestinians from Gaza could enter Israel for work in specified industries like construction and agriculture. Before 2010, Israel prohibited the entry of construction materials, industrial raw materials, infrastructure materials, and "luxury goods" like toys and chocolates into Gaza.
Until the onset of this conflict, Gaza had only one power plant. While restricting Gaza's development of its energy infrastructure, Israel provides electricity and water to Gaza as a means of control.
An Israeli official revealed in an interview with British media that as part of the third phase of Gantz's plan, land crossings between Israel and Gaza will no longer be open, and Gaza residents will no longer be allowed to work in Israel.
Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter also suggested that after all combat ends, Israel could establish a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip to prevent Gaza residents from approaching the Israeli border.
Insiders revealed that U.S. and Israeli officials are discussing future plans for Gaza, including establishing a transitional government supported by the UN and Arab nations. Israel's main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has proposed allowing the Palestinian Authority to regain control of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority currently controls the West Bank, but its control is limited due to the presence of various armed groups.
Regardless of Gaza's future structure, Israel's current goal is to eliminate Hamas.
Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists and amassed Merkava main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and 300,000 soldiers along the Gaza border. After Biden's visit to Israel, Israel continued its intense airstrikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas strongholds and tunnel networks.
On Thursday night, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza was damaged in an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of 16 Palestinians. At the time, at least 500 people were seeking refuge in the church.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society received a warning from the Israeli Air Force on Friday to evacuate the Holy City Hospital in Gaza. As of Saturday, the current conflict has resulted in the deaths of 4,385 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, with another 14,000 injured. On the Israeli side, 1,400 have died, with 4,834 injured.
