Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Stance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed openness to a “temporary ceasefire” in Gaza, as international pressure mounts over Israel’s offensive and aid blockade in Palestinian territories.
“If there is an option for a temporary ceasefire, to release the hostages, we will be ready,” Netanyahu stated during a press conference in Jerusalem. He also emphasized that “the entire Gaza Strip” will be under the control of the Israeli military following the ongoing large-scale operation.
However, he added, “We must avoid a humanitarian crisis to maintain our operational freedom of action.”
Incident in West Bank
Netanyahu refrained from commenting on the shootings by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank during a visit by foreign diplomats organized by the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli military explained that the diplomatic delegation “entered an area where they were not authorized to be,” and soldiers “operating in the area fired warning shots to disperse them.” The military regretted any “inconvenience caused.”
The Palestinian Authority denounced “the heinous crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces.” The European Union, the UN, and several European countries also condemned the incident. Mexico sought “clarifications” from the Israeli embassy, and Uruguay summoned the Israeli ambassador in Montevideo.
Unbearable Situation in Gaza
Israel has faced international criticism for managing the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which it kept completely blockaded from March 2 until this week.
Since Monday, Israel has allowed access to some aid convoys, which the UN says are only “a drop in the ocean” of Gaza’s needs, where many residents have yet to notice any change.
“Nobody is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven’t received anything,” Umm Talal Al Masri, a 53-year-old internally displaced person in Gaza City, told AFP, describing the situation as “unbearable.”
Israel claimed that around 100 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Wednesday, following the entry of 93 trucks on Tuesday and a dozen on Monday.
The UN reported on Wednesday evening that these supplies were left stranded just after crossing the border and were “not being distributed.”
It wasn’t until late in the day in Gaza that UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said his teams collected “around 90 trucks loaded at the Kerem Shalom border crossing and dispatched them to Gaza.”
However, Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF) stated that this volume of aid is far from sufficient for a population of 2.4 million and called the move “a smokescreen” while the siege “continues.”
Dignified Humanitarian Aid
Meanwhile, the bombings continue, and the Gaza Civil Defense reported that at least 19 people, “mostly children,” died early Wednesday in Israeli attacks, including a newborn baby born just a week ago.
Israel intensified its offensive over the weekend, vowing to defeat Hamas leaders responsible for an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism about finding a “relatively quick” solution to end the war, acknowledging that he had felt this way before without success.
The international community has increased pressure for Israel to halt its military campaign and allow aid delivery.
Pope Leon XIV described the situation in Gaza as “worrisome and painful” and called for “the entry of dignified humanitarian aid.”
The UK suspended free trade negotiations with Israel on Tuesday, recalled the Israeli ambassador, and said it would impose sanctions on West Bank settlers.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated that “a large majority” of the 27 member countries’ chancellors support reviewing the association agreement with Israel.
Germany defended the utility of this agreement, calling it an “important forum” for relations with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar considered the EU measures a reflection of “a complete lack of understanding” of Israel’s complex reality.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on southern Israel that left 1,218 dead, mostly civilians, according to an official tally. The Islamists also kidnapped 251 people that day.
Of these, 57 remain captive in Gaza, though 34 have been declared dead by the Israeli military. The Israeli Defense Ministry reported that at least 53,655 people, mostly civilians, have died in Israel’s military reprisal, a figure the UN considers reliable.
