Following the protest in Washington D.C, and worldwide by the global Jewish community mainly, for the voice for a ceasefire, the pressure is increasing on Israel for immediate decision-making. The US has made repeated requests to Israeli authorities to minimise the risks of civilian casualties. The mounting pressure can result in detrimental consequences for Israeli support. There are already enough demonstrations worldwide in favour of the Palestinian cause which also articulated support for the long Israel-Palestine conflicts.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to meet with Turkey’s foreign minister in Ankara. Reuters placed this meeting after the immediate pressure on the current Biden administration due to the mass protests and demonstrations in the heartland of the U.S. The pro-Palestinian protest tried to storm an air base that houses the U.S. troops in Southern Turkey. The worldwide protest seems to have favoured the Palestine cause and against Israel especially.
The current escalating situation
As per the latest counting, there are more than 10,000 casualties across the Gaza region, which has fired the demonstrations for the civilians of Palestine on humanitarian grounds. The continuous bombardment since the announcement of PM Netanyahu about the full-fledged war against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip has escalated the crisis. Following the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians and making several Israelis their hostages, the Israeli government has perceived this as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Source: Times of Israel
Blinken on Sunday made a surprise visit to the West Bank to meet with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who joined the international calls for an immediate ceasefire. But the point of Israel’s side is very clear that until and unless there is the release of hostages held by Hamas, no talks about the ceasefire.
The sources of Israel’s military confirmed that it had surrounded Gaza City to trap the Hamas group. The news agency of Palestinian WAFA reported “unprecedented and continuous attack, bombardment from Israel, which cost several civilians lives across the region. There is a severe lockdown-like situation in Gaza City including the cutoff of communications and internet service for an unpredictable time.
Justification from Israel’s end and the US’s stance
As per the source of CNN, a spokesman for Israel’s military stated that the bombardments in Northern Gaza were halted for several hours for two days in a row to allow civilians to rescue them from this crisis situation. Even, earlier Israeli authorities also warned the civilians of Gaza to leave the city. But the civilians, as per the news sources, were so confused as to where they should escape from their own homes.
Source: Today Online
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus further clarified that the Israeli force not only warned the civilians but also helped them to out of the city and created better communication with the rescue team for the civilians. Col Cornicus further added there was access to water and humanitarian goods in the South of Gaza, but it was Hamas who actually created the impediments by firing on them. This account given by Col to Reuters, could not be verified immediately.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will call foreign leaders later on Monday to discuss the conflict situation and the scope for advancing the administration’s efforts to increase the humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, reported by her office. U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East region, tweeted that an Ohio-class nuclear submarine had arrived in the region which can be considered as an unusual instance for signalling to Iran.
The situation is worsening so far in the Gaza Strip. The civilians do not have their bearing cost of life, be it in the eyes of Israeli forces or the Hamas group. The civilians have no stake in this conflict and thus they should not be made the victim in this.
