Vantage | Will Israel choose ceasefire or offensive to save its hostages?

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas stretches into its 25th day, the situation on the ground continues to intensify. Pressure is mounting on both sides and Israeli soldiers have advanced deep into Hamas territory moving closer to Gaza City.

Escalation and siege tactics Israeli forces appear to be executing a strategy aimed at laying siege to Hamas in Gaza. Tanks have been spotted in the northern region and they have also cut off a vital road to the south. This approach raises questions about what Hamas is doing in response. Hamas has been attempting to leverage the hostages it holds with over 200 in captivity. They have discussed a possible ceasefire in exchange for the release of these hostages. Recently, they released a video featuring three of these captives, delivering a direct message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hostage video and Netanyahu’s stance In the video, the hostages directly blame Netanyahu for the ongoing conflict and demand an end to the offensive urging him to negotiate instead. However, Netanyahu has remained combative, ruling out a ceasefire and emphasising the importance of ground operations to pressure Hamas into releasing the hostages. “The ground action actually creates the possibility, not the certainty, but the possibility of getting our hostages out because Hamas will not do it unless they are under pressure. They simply will not do it. They only do it under pressure, this creates pressure. Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. Public opinion and Israeli strategy As the conflict continues, public support for Israeli actions appears to be waning. Initially, after the Hamas attack, most Israelis supported invading and occupying Gaza, with one poll indicating 65 per cent support. However, that same poll now shows a decline in support, with only 46 per cent in favour of an invasion. This shift in public sentiment adds to the challenges Netanyahu faces in maintaining domestic support. Israelis are already critical of Netanyahu due to an intelligence failure and if things go wrong in Gaza blame is likely to fall on him once again. Nevertheless, the Israeli government continues to pour more assets into Gaza to press its objectives. Humanitarian crisis in Gaza Amid the conflict, Gaza has experienced extensive destruction, leaving it unrecognisable. The death toll stands at around 8,300 including more than 3,000 children. The situation is dire with a severe lack of fuel affecting transportation. Dead bodies are being transported on donkey carts due to the scarcity of fuel and ambulances are in short supply. Hospitals are struggling to cope with surgeries taking place in corridors due to overcrowding. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is escalating, with aid deliveries insufficient to meet the growing needs. Palestinian surgeon Mohammed Al-Run while standing in corridor where surgeries are being performed said, “As you can see now, we are performing surgeries in the corridor of the surgical suites because all the suites are full. From 7 o’clock this morning, we received a large number of injured patients who needed immediate surgery. There are surgeries here in the corridors, in addition to those taking place in the four surgical suites. The surgeons performing these operations are of course tired and exhausted, but someone needed to handle these patients’ cases.” Complex and risky reality The ongoing conflict in Gaza is a complex and risky situation that involves military tactics, diplomacy and a battle for public opinion. Hamas has chosen to release a hostage video to garner support while Israel has launched an extensive propaganda campaign. The human toll continues to rise and the stakes remain high for both sides. The situation in Gaza continues to raise concerns as the flow of aid into the region faces significant obstacles. Many are left wondering, “Where is the aid?” Although trucks are still delivering assistance, it is simply not enough to meet the pressing needs of the population. Aid trucks trickle in: A fraction of what’s needed Since the Rafah crossing opened only 144 aid trucks have entered Gaza with a mere 26 on Monday. To put this into perspective, before the war 500 trucks used to enter daily making 26 deliveries a day a far cry from what’s required. UN’s call: Kerem Shalom crossing as Plan B So, what’s the plan B? The United Nations is urging Israel to allow aid through its borders specifically via the Kerem Shalom crossing. This crossing is better equipped to handle the traffic and could significantly increase the aid flow into Gaza. UN Security Council meeting: A blame game unfolds An appeal was made at the UN Security Council to address this issue. However, as expected, this led to a blame game between Arab countries and Israel. Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, accused Israel of wanting to depopulate Gaza entirely, pushing its population into Egypt’s Sinai Desert. “They (Israel) want do to depopulate the Gaza Strip completely from the entire population and throw them in the lap of Egypt in the Sinai desert. No one should justify our killing or find reasons to give more time to the killer. Call for an end of this assault on an entire nation," said Ambassador Riyad Mansour. On the other hand, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, defended his country’s actions, emphasising the importance of not staying silent in the face of evil. “Some of you have forgotten why this body was established. So I will remind you, from this day on, each time you look at me, you will remember what staying silent in the face of evil means. Just like my grandparents and the grandparents of millions of Jews, from now on, my team and I will wear yellow stars,” said Erdan. Yellow Star controversy: A symbol with a dark history One striking moment during the UN Security Council meeting was the Israeli envoy wearing a yellow star. This gesture carries a dark history as it was a symbol used by the Nazis to target and single out Jews during the Holocaust. This act has stirred controversy, with some, like Dani Dayan, Chairperson of Israel’s Holocaust Museum, deeming it a wrong move that disrespects both Holocaust victims and Israel. Propaganda’s role: Shaping public opinion The use of propaganda in the ongoing conflict cannot be underestimated. Israel, known for its effective use of media campaigns, may have crossed a red line this time. Pro-Israel advertisements are now appearing in children’s games such as Angry Birds and Subway Surfers. These ads attempt to shape public opinion, emphasising the protection of children in Israel, but they have sparked debate over their appropriateness. At least six such ads have been spotted, mostly in Europe. Israel claims to have no knowledge of how these ads ended up in games, although they admit to producing them. Reports indicate that Israel has spent $1.5 million on ads since the 7 October attack. The fact that even major tech platforms like Google and Twitter are running Israeli ads highlights the importance of public sentiment in today’s conflicts. Power of perception: Hamas and Israel’s media strategies In the ongoing struggle, both Hamas and Israel understand the power of public opinion. Hamas released a hostage video to influence the narrative, while Israel has allocated a significant budget for its media campaigns. It’s a dangerous and risky game, but it reflects the reality of modern warfare, where winning hearts and minds is as crucial as any military operation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.