Israel will again extend its offensive against Hamas to Gaza, following a plan approved by the security firm on the night of Sunday to Monday. A senior army official, quoted by the Israeli media Be fated This Monday, May 5 at midday, however, nuances the scope of the TSAhal’s objectives: “The band [de Gaza] will not be occupied in its entirety, and not immediately. We will not enter the areas where there are risks of kidnappings. ”
At the end of the afternoon, Benyamin Netanyahu confirmed that a new offensive in Gaza was in preparation and that it will be intensive. However, he did not specify the extent of the territory of the enclave which would be seized. He nevertheless said that “The population will be moved, for their own protection”.
In the morning, an Israeli source told AFP that the plan would include “The conquest of the Gaza Strip and the control of territories”. The promotion of “Voluntary departure from the Gazaouis” of the Palestinian territory. Two Israeli officials also mentioned to the agency “A plan aimed at capturing the entire Gaza Strip and staying on the territory for an indefinite period”.
If no Israeli politician has yet officially confirmed the approval of this plan, a report by the Israeli public channel Kan, citing informed sources of details, said its implementation would be gradual and would take months. Such a calendar could leave the door open to negotiations on a ceasefire and a hostage liberation agreement before a visit by American president Donald Trump in the region next week, according to the Israeli security minister Zeev Elkin, quoted by Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu also said during the meeting that he “Continued to promote The Trump plan to allow the voluntary departure of the inhabitants of Gaza and that negotiations on this subject continued ”, According to the same source. This project had sparked an uproar internationally.
In response, the Family Forum, the largest association of hostage relatives in Israel, criticized the will of the Israeli government to expand the offensive in the Palestinian territory. This plan deserves the name of «Plan Smotrich-Nnetanyahou» because he “Sacrifies the hostages”, According to the association, in reference to the influence of the Minister of Far -Right Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, on the government of the Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu. “This morning, the government admits that it chooses the territory rather than hostages, unlike the wishes of more than 70 % of the population”, Add the text.
For its part, the European Union was said this Monday, “Concerned” by this new Israeli plan “Who will lead to new victims and sufferings for the Palestinian population”. During the daily press point of the European Commission, the EU diplomatic service spokesman also called “Israel to show the greatest restraint”.
Sunday evening, the Israeli army confirmed the upcoming recall of many reservists with the aim of this extended offensive, with the aim of destroying “All infrastructure” Hamas in the Palestinian enclave. “This week, we recall tens of thousands of reservists in order to strengthen and expand our operation in Gaza”, said Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, chief of staff of the army, in a press release: “We intensify the pressure in order to bring back our [otages] And to defeat Hamas. We will act in other areas and destroy all [ses] infrastructure, on the surface as underground. “
These reservists should replace called or active soldiers across the country as well as in the occupied West Bank so that they can be sent to fight in the Palestinian enclave. In addition, the Israeli security firm met on Sunday evening, possibly with a view to approving the widening of the offensive in Gaza.
The information on the recall of the reservists was published on Saturday after the armed branch of Hamas broadcast a video of an alleged hostage in which an elongated man appears, his head and the left arm covered with bandages with brown tasks. Speaking Hebrew, he presents himself as “Prisoner number 24” But was identified as Maxim Herkin, an Israeli-Russian hostage who will be 37 years old at the end of May.
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his extreme right supporters without whom he would lose his majority, but supported by Donald Trump, is currently multiplying the comments go to war. On Saturday evening, he attacked Qatar, Emirate who led mediation with Egypt for a truce with Hamas and a hostage liberation agreement held in the Gaza Strip, enjoining it to “Ceep your double game and double language”. “Israel will win this legitimate war with legitimate means”he added, seeming to mean the end of any negotiation.
Qatar “Firmly rejects incendiary declarations” by Benyamin Netanyahu, “Which are contrary to the most basic rules of political and moral responsibility”, reacted the spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Affairs, Majed al-Ansari.
Since Israel ended on March 18 to two months from a truce in the war launched by the unprecedented attack in Hamas on October 7, 2023, Benyamin Netanyahu assures that increased military pressure is the only way to force the Palestinian Islamist movement to make the hostages.
On the contrary, “Any intensification of fights will place hostages […] in immediate danger “warned the forum of hostage families, Israeli organization of relatives of the captives. “For the vast majority of Israelis The return of the hostages is the first moral priority of the nation ”, added the forum in a press release, deeming still possible to “Achieve an agreement to save lives and prevent more human losses”.
This late afternoon this Monday, the Hebrew state nevertheless left open until mid-May, a “window” Negotiations with a view to the release of the hostages while his troops are preparing for a new major military campaign, according to a senior Israeli security official. “The preparation of the forces before the start of the maneuver will offer a window until the end of the American president’s visit to the region to allow an agreement [de libération des] hostages “ Based on the plan proposed by Washington, added this manager. President Donald Trump is expected in the Middle East for a visit scheduled for May 13 to 16.
The last truce between Israel and Hamas enabled the return of 33 Israeli hostages, including 8 dead, in exchange for the release of around 1,800 Palestinians held by Israel. On Saturday evening, several thousand Israelis once again gathered in Tel Aviv. Of the 251 people kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 58 are still retained in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army.
Update : This Monday, May 5 at 1:17 p.m. Monday, with the addition of the declaration of a senior Israeli army official in Ynet; at 2 p.m., with the reaction of the EU; at 4:45 p.m. with the window of negotiations for the release of hostages; At 5:15 p.m. with the announcement that the population will be moved.
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