Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel remains resolute in his stance after 100 days of war against Hamas in Gaza. Despite growing uncertainty, international concern over the increasing loss of life, and fears of a broader regional conflict, Netanyahu vows to continue fighting.
Israel is currently awaiting a decision from the world’s top court regarding a possible injunction against its military’s offensive in Gaza. The Israeli military’s war against Hamas, launched in response to a deadly Hamas-led assault on October 7, has resulted in the deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians, with a majority being women and children, according to Gaza health officials. Additionally, the conflict has displaced most of the population in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s remarks, along with comments from the Israeli military over the weekend, highlight a growing disconnect between the domestic perception of the war’s timing and goals and the increasing impatience of the international community in the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The United States, Israel’s most important ally, has urged Israel to scale down its campaign, while many other countries have called for an immediate cease-fire.
During a televised news conference on Saturday night, Netanyahu declared, “We are continuing the war until the end – until total victory, until we achieve all of our goals.” He emphasized that the goals include eliminating Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never pose a threat to Israel again.
More than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since the war began, according to Gazan health officials. Credit…Fatima Shbair/Associated Press
“Nobody will stop us - not The Hague, not the axis of evil, and not anybody else,” Netanyahu added. The Hague is where the United Nations’ top court is currently hearing accusations brought by South Africa, claiming that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.
The court recently concluded two days of hearings and will now decide whether to call on Israel to adopt provisional measures, such as a cessation of hostilities, while it assesses the merit of the genocide claim. The date for the announcement of the decision has not been set, and the court has limited means of enforcing its rulings.
Netanyahu also mentioned Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who have taken military actions in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, raising concerns about a wider conflict.
In response to over two dozen Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November, the United States led airstrikes on Thursday and Friday against Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen. However, U.S. officials state that the Houthis still possess the capability to launch missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border have continued throughout the weekend.
An antitank…
2024-01-15 08:38:02
Article from www.nytimes.com
rnrn