Netanyahu Declares Gaza Operation a Success, Signals No Ceasefire

Formalization of urban warfare commencement
No ceasefire without the release of hostages
The international community repeatedly urges a truce
Netanyahu hints at long-term occupation

The Israeli military, which has surrounded the Gaza Strip ruled by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, has entered into urban warfare. The Israeli government, which has designated Gaza City, the core area of the Gaza Strip, as the worst-ever terrorist base, is strengthening its fighting spirit, saying, “There will be no ceasefire,” even amid growing international anti-war sentiment. As the Israeli military embarks on indiscriminate attacks in Gaza City, the scale of civilian casualties is expected to increase.

According to major foreign media on the 7th (local time), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the retaliatory war that began after Hamas’s preemptive attack as “a remarkable success” in his TV speech in the afternoon. He stated, “Gaza City is surrounded. Our military is operating inside, and the pressure on Hamas is intensifying every day, every hour.” He added, “Thousands of terrorists have been eliminated on the ground and in tunnels,” and emphasized, “We have no intention of stopping (the attack on Hamas). We plan to continue to the end.”

The Israeli military entered the siege on the 2nd by deploying a large number of ground forces in the Gaza Strip, the stronghold of Hamas. The Israeli government has not disclosed the exact location of the Israeli military since the start of the ground war, so the briefing on the operation in Gaza City on this day is seen as virtually formalizing the start of urban warfare.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said in a press conference broadcast live on TV just before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, “The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are now in the heart of Gaza City,” and “Gaza City is the largest terrorist base ever.” In particular, he explained, “IDF troops have entered the Gaza Strip from the north and south,” and “not only armored vehicles and tanks but also engineers are advancing.”

He went on to say, “Commanders and other Gaza Strip terrorists, infrastructure, bunkers, communication centers, etc., are heading towards one goal, and they are tightening the noose around the Gaza Strip.” Regarding the temporary ceasefire, he said, “My top priority is the hostages held by the beasts,” and “There will be no humanitarian ceasefire without the release of the hostages.”

On the other hand, international anti-war sentiment is growing. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, repeatedly called for a ceasefire to the Israeli government through a statement on the day, saying, “The past month has been a time of pain, destruction, anger, and despair due to the massacre.” The United States, which has traditionally been a staunch ally and has consistently expressed its support, is showing signs of withdrawing its support due to Israel’s retaliatory war.

As domestic sentiment that the U.S. is passively dealing with the damage to Palestinian civilians spreads, President Biden, who is preparing for next year’s election, and his senior staff are meeting with Palestinian leaders and domestic Muslim leaders one after another. It was reported that President Biden also called Prime Minister Netanyahu the day before and urged a three-day ceasefire for the release of hostages.

The Israeli government is also revealing its intention to occupy the Gaza Strip for a long time. In an interview with ABC in the United States the day before, Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested the possibility of long-term occupation, saying, “Israel could indefinitely hold total security responsibility for the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million Palestinians live.” A British media outlet pointed out, “This is the first overt ‘reoccupation’ statement made by Prime Minister Netanyahu since the invasion of Israel by Hamas on the 7th of last month,” and “This reflects a policy change of the Israeli government regarding the rule of the Gaza Strip.”

By. Cho Yoojin