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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Israel on Monday reiterated their intention to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins March 10, if the 132 remaining Israel hostages are not released by the Hamas terrorists who abducted them on October 7th. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “finish the job” in Gaza as cease-fire talks stalled, with Netanyahu instead saying a hostage release “can be achieved through strong military action and tough negotiations.”
In a menacing message, all European Union countries, except Hungary, issued a warning to Israel on Monday regarding the potential consequences of launching an offensive in Rafah, a city on the southern edge of Gaza. The European leaders expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian crisis.
Ireland’s Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, characterized an attack on Rafah as “absolutely catastrophic” and “unconscionable” before a meeting of foreign ministers from all 27 EU member states in Brussels, according to a Reuters report. Following the discussions, a joint statement was released by 26 EU member states, calling for an “immediate humanitarian pause” that would pave the way for a lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the provision of essential humanitarian assistance.
The statement explicitly urged the Israeli government to refrain from military action in Rafah, emphasizing the already dire humanitarian situation and the urgent need for basic services and assistance, as was noted in the Reuters report. However, Hungary, a close ally of the Israeli government, stood alone as the only EU country not endorsing the joint statement.
The escalating situation in Rafah is framed by Israel’s preparation for a ground invasion, citing the city as the last stronghold of Hamas control after nearly five months of intense conflict. Reuters also reported that Israel has proof that Hamas fighters are using civilians as human shields and the Israeli government is taking “extraordinary measures” to minimize civilian casualties.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledged the difficulty in preventing civilian deaths in the event of an offensive. He stated, “We have to continue putting pressure on Israel to make them understand that there are so many people in the streets of Rafah; it will be impossible to avoid civilian casualties,” Reuters reported.
Also on Tuesday, Israel National News reported that the United States vetoed the draft resolution put forward by Algeria at the UN Security Council that demanded an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization.
13 nations voted in favor of the ceasefire resolution, while the UK abstained.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield said following the vote, “In recent weeks we have been very clear that this proposal will not pass and is contrary to a sustainable peace agreement.”
INN reported that she added, “We hope that the Council will adopt our proposed resolution so that we can reach a temporary ceasefire under which all the abductees will be released and humanitarian aid will be delivered to Palestinian citizens who desperately need it.”
According to her, “We should finally condemn Hamas for their horrible acts on October 7 that started the conflict. We are obliged to continue working on the proposal in the following days.”
This is the third time the US has vetoed a Security Council resolution on the Israel-Hamas war since the massacre of October 7, the INN report said.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said following the vote, “The UN’s proposed ceasefire resolution is essentially a request for Israel to submit to terror. Israel remains resolute in this just war, and we will remain unwavering until our objectives are achieved – the safe return of all our hostages and the complete eradication of Hamas. No force in the world will compel Israel to stop this war until these goals are realized.”
In other related developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Zikim military base on Tuesday. During his visit, Netanyahu met with the IDF Artillery Corps’ elite Sky Riders Unit.
The Prime Minister was briefed by the commander of the unit on its unique abilities and its achievements during the fighting; he also viewed an exhibit of the unit’s various tools and capabilities, including the operations system, communications and UAVs, as was reported by INN. Prime Minister Netanyahu operated a UAV and used it to monitor the skies over Gaza.
The Prime Minister spoke with the reservist and conscript soldiers and heard from them about their activity up until now, as well as their readiness to continue fighting.
INN also reported that Netanyahu told the soldiers, “There is considerable pressure on Israel at home and abroad to stop the war before we achieve all of its goals, including a deal at any price to free the hostages. We very much want to achieve another release and we are prepared to go far but we are not prepared to pay any price, certainly not the delusional prices that Hamas is demanding of us, the meaning of which is the defeat of the State of Israel.”
“We are committed to continuing the war until we achieve all of its goals: Eliminating Hamas, releasing all of the hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel. There is no pressure, none, that can change this.”
The Prime Minister was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Tzahi Braverman and his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil.
On Tuesday evening, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke to Kan Reshet Bet about the negotiations for a deal to release the hostages from Hamas captivity, as was indicated in the INN report.
“This is not the most important issue. It’s not a competition? What is important now? We must destroy Hamas. It’s vital, but you also understand that saying ‘at all costs’ is a problem. We need to return the hostages. We need to put pressure on Hamas,” Smotrich said.
He added, “All our problems started with this terrible tragedy, but we discovered strengths within ourselves, and we united. And we are thrashing Hamas. We are determined and we are winning.”
INN reported that during the interview, Smotrich also commented on assessments about the whereabouts of Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar. “The moment he realizes that he is going to live in a state of despair, he will crack. We will get to him. We will eliminate him, we will eliminate Def, we will eliminate the others. The war will not end until everybody in this terrible bunch has been killed. The IDF is putting a lot of effort into this. Sinwar is in great distress.”
Smotrich later posted a tweet on X, in which he wrote: “I was asked in an interview whether the return of the hostages is not the most important issue, before destroying Hamas and winning the war. My answer is clear: only by destroying Hamas and winning the war, will we return all the hostages. Those who call for a deal at all costs will lead to Israel’s defeat at war and will prevent us from returning the hostages home.”
Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in response that “The return of the hostages is not only our main goal in the war, but also our moral obligation as a country and as a nation. It is the most urgent matter. We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home, according to the INN report.
Minister and cabinet member Yifat Shasha-Biton said: “It is important to bring down Hamas, but the return of the hostages is the most urgent goal! Without the return of the hostages, there is no victory! Certainly not a ‘total victory’. Anyone who does not understand this, does not know what leadership is.”
The report on INN also said that opposition leader Yair Lapid responded, “Smotrich’s attack on the hostages’ families is a moral disgrace. Heartless people cannot continue to lead the State of Israel into an abyss. Smotrich, 1,200 Israelis were murdered on your and PM Netanyahu’s watch. On your watch Israeli citizens were kidnapped, tortured and raped. You are responsible for their fate. Israel will not win without returning the hostages.”
With Ramadan set to begin the second week of March, Israeli officials have expressed worries that the sensitive period could amplify tensions stemming from Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has sparked worldwide Muslim anger toward the Jewish state.
On Tuesday, The Times of Israel also reported that concerns have emerged over potential restrictions on Arab Israelis entering the Al-Aqsa compound atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the upcoming month of Ramadan. The head of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, reportedly warned ministers about the potential consequences of such restrictions, cautioning that it could transform the conflict into a religious one and further fuel unrest.
Reports on Sunday revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed security officials during a cabinet meeting to explore options for age criteria and quotas that could be imposed on Arab citizens wishing to visit the holy site during Ramadan, the TOI reported. This aligns with proposals put forth by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who is part of the ruling coalition.
However, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar expressed strong reservations about these potential restrictions, emphasizing that such measures could trigger an angry backlash. The TOI report said that he warned that imposing limitations on Arab Israelis might play into the hands of Hamas, which has actively sought to exploit tensions and incite violent unrest within Israel since October 7, coinciding with the ongoing war in Gaza.
Hamas labeled its October 7 onslaught on southern Israel as “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” attempting to claim religious legitimacy for its actions. The proposed restrictions risk exacerbating the situation, providing further ammunition for the terror group’s narrative and potentially escalating the conflict.
Opposition to the proposed curbs was reportedly voiced by Shin Bet and Israeli Defense Forces representatives at the cabinet meeting. On the other hand, support for the restrictions came from the police, though not from police chief Kobi Shabtai.
Israeli officials are grappling with the delicate situation and the potential for heightened tensions, the TOI report said. The concern is that the sensitive period, coupled with Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, could lead to increased unrest and anger within the Muslim community, both domestically and globally.
The TOI also reported on Tuesday that Israeli officials categorically denied a report by the Saudi-owned news outlet Elaph, which suggested that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had fled to Egypt through an extensive network of tunnels running under the Gaza-Egypt border. The report, which lacks independent verification, asserted that Sinwar and his brother Muhammad might have taken hostages along to use as human shields during their alleged escape to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) refuted the claims, stating that they have no information indicating Yahya Sinwar has left Gaza, as was noted in the TOI report. Sinwar, who has not been seen in public since the October 7 attack led by Hamas, remains a significant figure in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terror group.
The IDF, in the meantime, signaled its intention to renew battles in parts of Gaza City. Currently, the focus of the fighting is concentrated in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the TOI report. The toll of troops killed since the commencement of the ground invasion rose to 236, with the death of a reservist injured in Khan Younis last week. The conflict has been marked by escalating violence and a significant loss of life on both sides.
While the IDF claims to have destroyed 75% of Hamas battalions, the group’s leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, remain elusive. Sinwar has been linked to the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel, predominantly civilians, the report in the TOI said. The attackers, who invaded southern Israel, committed acts of brutality, including widespread sexual violence, and took 253 hostages back to Gaza. Over half of these hostages are still in captivity. (Sources: Reuters.com, IsraelNationalNews.com and The Times of Israel
