Vantage | Will it be a ceasefire, ground invasion of Gaza, or release of hostages?

As Joe Biden left Israel, the attacks on Gaza have intensified, leading to a growing wave of anger across the Arab world. The demand for an immediate ceasefire is gaining momentum, but Israel shows no sign of halting its military operations.

Morning in Gaza

The images from Gaza last morning were haunting. Bombs were detonating one after the other, causing buildings to crumble like dominos and survivors desperately called for help.

Tragedy in Khan Younis

One of the devastating strikes targetted Khan Younis, a supposed safe zone in southern Gaza. Unfortunately, it turned into a nightmare as a residential area was hit resulting in the loss of 13 lives from the same family. This incident raises the question of whether any place in Gaza can be deemed safe.

Displaced Gazan Raafat Al-Nakhal painted a grim picture saying, “We came from Gaza city, they told us to come to the south so we came to the south. We found that the strikes intensified in the south. We stayed in a house, in front of us there were strikes and behind us strikes. There’s no safety. There’s nowhere safe in Gaza. You have to be ready to die and just stay in your house.”

Continued airstrikes

Another strike occurred near Rafah, the southernmost point in Gaza, where reports indicate that Israel carried out an air raid, causing the death of at least 30 people and injuring 21 more. The overall casualties continue to rise.

Human toll in Israel and Gaza

In Israel, approximately 1,400 people have lost their lives with 3,800 others sustaining injuries. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that some of the deceased cannot be buried due to their bodies being mutilated beyond recognition, a testament to the brutality of the Hamas attack.

In Gaza, the toll is even higher, with over 3,400 Palestinians killed and around 12,000 injured. Shockingly, a significant portion of the casualties are children, with reports suggesting that one-third of the dead in Gaza are children. This means that more than 1,000 children have lost their lives in just 13 days, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abusittah says, “40 per cent of all the cases that I’ve seen have been children, a lot of them have been like this, they’ve lost one or two parents, and unfortunately these kids have a long, long recovery road in front of them.”

Global protests

These tragic events have not gone unnoticed prompting a global outcry and a series of protests around the world. From Istanbul, Cairo, Amman, Sanaa to Tunis demonstrators took to the streets demanding an end to the violence and expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza. In Istanbul, the Palestinian flag was carried while the Israeli flag was burnt. In Egypt, protesters displayed photos of the destruction in Gaza, and in Jordan, minor clashes occurred as demonstrators attempted to march to the Israeli embassy. In Yemen, thousands of Palestinian supporters gathered in Sanaa controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Tunisia witnessed similar protests with thousands accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza.

Protests in US

The protests have not been limited to the Middle East. They have also reached Joe Biden’s doorstep. Demonstrations have taken place in various US cities including New York, Chicago, Washington and Saint Paul, all with a unified demand: an end to the attacks on Gaza. These protests reflect a growing sentiment of support for the people of Gaza transcending regional and international boundaries.

Symbolic Jewish protest

Perhaps one of the most symbolic protests occurred when a Jewish group held a demonstration. Approximately 200 protesters marched into the US Capitol organising a sit-in protest with the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Notably, most of the protesters were arrested emphasising the urgency and importance of their message. Their stance is clear: they do not want their identity to be used as an excuse for the ongoing bombing in Gaza.

Aid deliveries and challenges

While there is a growing sympathy and support for Gaza, the pressing question remains: will this translate into concrete action? Aid deliveries to Gaza are set to begin following Israel’s agreement to allow aid shipments into the region. However, around 120 aid trucks are currently stationed at the crossing and their movement is delayed due to necessary road repairs. President Joe Biden has set Friday as the target for getting the aid trucks across the border.

“They’re going to patch the roads. They have to fill potholes, to get these trucks through. And that’s going to occur, I expect it’ll take about eight hours tomorrow. So, there may be nothing rolled through probably until Friday (October 20),” says US President Joe Biden.

Challenges and a ground invasion

Challenges persist as Israel’s ground invasion looms. Reports suggest that reservists have been granted time off to be with their families, signalling the imminent nature of a ground offensive. However, the delay may be attributed to foreign visits. Joe Biden visited Israel and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived, with both leaders discussing the situation. It is well known that military invasions during foreign visits do not bode well and Israel may be waiting for an opportune moment.

Netanyahu’s statement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an intriguing comment during these trying times. He discussed the political intentions behind Hamas’s attack characterising it as an attempt to derail Israel’s peace process with Arab states. This insight sheds new light on the ongoing conflict. The invasion of Gaza seems imminent, but the possibility of a ceasefire still exists. Hamas has talked about releasing hostages, a gesture supported by Iran in exchange for Israel halting its attacks. However, Israel faces a challenging decision: whether to prioritise the release of hostages or the end of Hamas rule in Gaza. The choice made by Prime Minister Netanyahu will undoubtedly shape the fate of millions in the region.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

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