Israeli Strikes in Gaza Persist as Netanyahu Faces Growing Backlash

Tel Aviv— The discontent towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to escalate following the discovery of the bodies of six Israeli hostages over the weekend in a tunnel in Gaza. The unrest in Israel showed no signs of abating, with mass protests erupting for the third night in a row. Tens of thousands of demonstrators, fueled by frustration and desperation, are calling on Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to facilitate the return of the remaining 101 captives. Reports suggest that approximately 75 of these hostages may still be alive.

Protesters are voicing their anger loud and clear. Yair Katz, a protester, expressed his sentiments to CBS News, claiming, “The man is a liar, a compulsive liar. He’s a crook and a liar, and he’s a criminal.”

Many Israelis, like Katz, believe that Netanyahu prioritizes his political survival over the fate of the hostages. This growing sentiment has fueled the protesters’ resolve, with vows to persist until the prime minister agrees to a ceasefire and a hostage release deal.

However, Netanyahu remains firm in his stance, adamant that he will not yield to public pressure. In a televised address on Monday night, he reiterated his position, emphasizing that he would not “give in to pressure.”

The prime minister has been unwilling to entertain any agreement that would necessitate a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic strip of land along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. He maintains that Israeli boots on the ground are essential to prevent Hamas from rearming via smuggling tunnels, a claim both Egypt and Hamas dispute.

Both Egypt and Hamas insist on a full Israeli pullout from the corridor, with Hamas alleging that a previous ceasefire proposal, which had President Biden’s backing, was undermined when Netanyahu altered its terms.

As of Wednesday, ambiguity remains regarding how much leeway Netanyahu’s government might show in negotiations regarding the corridor. Reports differ on whether it could be part of a phased ceasefire deal, while others suggest that Netanyahu is still unwavering.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz voiced his criticism at a media briefing, arguing that the Philadelphi Corridor does not pose an “existential threat” to Israel and should not hinder negotiations related to the hostages. His comments echoed a sentiment shared by some within the military establishment, reflecting a clear divide with Netanyahu’s policies.

It appears increasingly evident that the war will persist unless Netanyahu alters his position. Even with the United Nations urgently attempting to vaccinate children against a polio outbreak in Gaza—an effort for which Israel has allowed limited military pauses—Israeli forces have continued their operations in various areas of the territory.

In recent attacks, Israeli airstrikes have impacted areas once deemed safe, such as the central zone around Gaza City and Deir al-Balah. Tragically, a nine-year-old girl named Tala Abu Ajwan was among those killed by shrapnel during an airstrike in Gaza City. Reports indicate she was still in her pink rollerblades when she succumbed to her injuries at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

Pictures of Tala before the war reveal a joyful girl whose life was unexpectedly shattered amidst the conflict. Local medics reported that she was one of nine fatalities resulting from the strike that hit a residential building near a park in Gaza City.

The Israeli military has stated that their recent strike targeted a Hamas “command and control center” located within a civilian structure in Gaza City, claiming that numerous precautions were taken to mitigate civilian harm. They asserted that Hamas operates within civilian infrastructure and systematically violates international law.

Tala’s mother stands devastated by her loss, joining the heart-wrenching tally of nearly 41,000 Palestinians reported killed since the beginning of the conflict, a number that includes both civilians and combatants according to health officials in Gaza.

The ongoing Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’ unforeseen attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the capture of around 250 hostages. Although many hostages were released during a brief ceasefire in November, the situation continues to be dire.

Amidst this relentless suffering, the Biden administration is reportedly developing a new proposal aimed at establishing a ceasefire and facilitating the release of hostages in a bid to bring an end to the war.