US President Joe Biden’s recent warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has limited Israel’s options in Gaza. And neither of Israel’s war objectives appear to have been met.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set a high bar for victory right at the start of the Gaza conflict: the complete destruction of Hamas and freedom for all of the approximately 250 hostages taken by the group during its raid into Israel on October 7 last year.
Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer wrote in this week’s Sunday Times, for instance, that when he was embedded with an IDF unit recently, he had observed what he believed to be Hamas snipers in the ruins of the Al-Shifa Hospital following the army’s “successful” conclusion of its operations there. Some far-right members of the cabinet have threatened to leave the government if he waivers from this aim. And this would cause his government to collapse, requiring fresh elections. On current polling, Netanyahu would surely lose by a substantial margin.
That’s a much lower bar, and Hamas seems to believe it has the momentum. Since the temporary truce in November, Hamas has hardened its demands for a new hostage-prisoner exchange deal to include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and permanent ceasefire. But did this really mark a turning point for US support for Israel? The US has already reduced its diplomatic support for Israel, having abstained on a ceasefire resolution in the UN Security Council last month, which allowed it to pass.
Hamas Iran Israel-Gaza War Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israeli Hostages Joe Biden Middle East Politics US-Israel Relations
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gaza war: Israel cancels US trip as Netanyahu fumes over UN ceasefireThe UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza after the US abstained, leading Israel to cancel a high-level visit to Washington.
Read more »
Israel reportedly blocking UN food aid to northern Gaza despite high famine riskHead of Unrwa Philippe Lazzarini says military authorities told the UN that convoys will no longer be approved
Read more »
'Man-made famine': UNRWA says Israel will no longer approve its Gaza food convoysIsrael has reportedly halted UNRWA food convoys to Gaza's north, escalating tensions amid a funding crisis and accusations against agency staff.
Read more »
Battles rage around Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, Israel says 170 gunmen deadAl Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in the north of the territory.
Read more »
Battles rage around Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, Israel says 170 gunmen deadAl Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in the north of the territory.
Read more »
Battles rage around Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, Israel says 170 gunmen deadAl Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in the north of the territory.
Read more »