In shattering the two-month ceasefire that had brought fragile peace and relief to Gaza, Israel has also smashed the faint hopes that a resolution might just remain within reach. That was one of the deadliest days since the early months of the conflict, sparked by the lethal Hamas raid of Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel said it was attacking “terror targets,” but health authorities in Gaza said that 174 children and 89 women were among the more than 400 dead. Evacuation orders issued by the military suggest that a renewed ground offensive was on its way for traumatized and repeatedly displaced Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that it was “only the beginning” and the military issued new evacuation orders. Families of the remaining Israeli hostages are terrified and angry too, attacking the government for choosing to give up on them.
Horror is piling upon horror. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since the war began, and the numbers grew even during the ceasefire, many due to Israel’s blocking of aid. British Secretary of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy on Monday belatedly acknowledged that as a breach of international law — only for the prime minister’s spokesperson to rebuke him.
A UN report last week said that Israel’s attacks on women’s healthcare in Gaza amounted to “genocidal acts,” and that security forces had used sexual violence as a weapon of war to “dominate and destroy the Palestinian people.” A previous UN commission found that “relentless and deliberate attacks” on medical personnel and facilities amounted to war crimes.
Building on the ceasefire always looked difficult. Negotiations never seriously began for the second phase that was supposed to bring about a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages, and the total withdrawal of Israeli forces — never mind consideration of the hypothetical third phase, Gaza’s reconstruction.
Netanyahu, who blames Hamas’ intransigence in refusing to release all the hostages now for the end of the ceasefire, is kept in power by endless conflict. He was due to testify in his corruption trial on Tuesday, but canceled, citing the renewed offensive. He needs support to pass a budget by the end of the month or his government would be dissolved. Resuming airstrikes has brought back one of his far-right coalition partners, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and should prevent the other, Bezalel Smotrich, from jumping ship. Israelis challenging, as authoritarian, his attempts to dismiss Israel Security Agency chief Ronen Bar can be accused of undermining the patriotic cause.
Yet most Israelis wanted to move to the second phase of the ceasefire, a recent survey showed. The testimony of returned hostages has refocused attention on the plight of those still held.
The renewed attack has been widely and rightly condemned in Europe and the Arab world. However, Israel, which was undeterred by former US president Joe Biden’s feeble scoldings, is now dealing with a president who told it to pause for a beat, but is happy to give it the green light to resume and urge it to go further. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the forced displacement of Palestinians — another war crime. The US and Israel have reportedly contacted officials in Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland about resettling uprooted Palestinians. Those plans are no more tolerable for being far-fetched. The Arab peace plan was a clear statement that there is a better alternative. However, for Israel’s right, which will not tolerate Palestinian aspirations to statehood, the destruction of hope is not merely a result of this war, but the goal. It must not succeed.
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