Eighteenth day of conflict between Israel and Hamas: for the hostages, the specter of a “long war”
In the eighteenth day of war between Israel and Hamas, the calls for a ceasefire from the United Nations are becoming more and more pressing while raids continue in Gaza in response to the October 7 attack and the ground offensive seems to be getting ever closer. And the ‘Guterres case’ breaks out, with Israel calling for the resignation of the UN secretary general after the sentences uttered during the security council meeting. Negotiations are therefore underway for the release of the hostages held by the terrorist organization in what, according to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, “could be a long war”.
Israel against Guterres, high tension
There is high tension between Israel and the UN. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, yesterday called for the resignation of Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He did so with a post on the social network subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.”
“The UN secretary general, who shows understanding for the campaign of mass killings of children, women and the elderly, is not fit to lead the UN – wrote Erdan – I ask him to resign immediately”.
For Erdan, “there is no justification or sense in speaking to those who demonstrate compassion for the most terrible atrocities committed against the citizens of Israel and the Jews. There are simply no words.”
On X, the Israeli ambassador to the UN disputes what he considers a “shocking speech” by Guterres. According to Erdan, Guterres’ “shocking speech” at the Security Council meeting, while rockets are being fired at all of Israel, definitively proves, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the Secretary General is completely disconnected from reality in our region and that he considers the massacre committed by Nazi Hamas terrorists in a distorted and immoral way.”
“His statement, that ‘the Hamas attacks did not come out of nowhere’ – the Israeli ambassador to the UN continues in the post – expresses an understanding of terrorism and killings. It is truly unimaginable. It is truly sad that the leader of an organization that emerged after the Holocaust has such horrible opinions. A tragedy!”
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen later said he had canceled a meeting he had planned with the UN secretary general. “I will not meet the secretary general of the United Nations – wrote Cohen on the social network
Meanwhile, the United Nations secretary general called Israel’s intensified attacks on Gaza “deeply alarming.” He reiterated his call for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an immediate release of all hostages “unconditionally”.
Crisis in Gaza, UN: “No fuel”. IDF: “Ask Hamas”
Meanwhile, there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with aid struggling to arrive. “As the fuel needed to run water systems runs out – writes CNN -, some Gazans have been forced to drink dirty, salty water, raising concerns about a health crisis and fears that people may start to dying of dehydration.” The United Nations agency UNRWA meanwhile says it will be forced to stop its operations in Gaza if fuel is not delivered to the territory.
The Israeli army’s response to the UN agency’s appeal on liters of fuel. Ask Hamas if you can have some.”
Hostages, difficult talks
Meanwhile, talks are underway to try to secure the release of the hostages – around 220 – held by Hamas in Gaza, some sources told CNN. But the talks, they explain, are complicated by a series of factors.
Meanwhile, the negotiation between Hamas and Israel for the release of 50 hostages with dual nationality in exchange for fuel has failed. The Wall Street Journal writes this, citing well-informed sources close to the talks. In fact, Israel fears that the fuel will end up in the hands of Hamas and use it for further attacks.
And the terrorist organization dictates its conditions: “For humanitarian reasons we have released four “hostages” without conditions, but if anyone wants to achieve other releases, we must insist that the international community puts more pressure on Israel to open the border crossing. Rafah to allow fuel and medical supplies to reach Gaza.” This was said yesterday by Osama Hamdan, in the Hamas politburo and its representative in Lebanon, in statements to the Dpa agency which describes him as a figure ‘close’ to the negotiations for the release of the kidnapped people.
Land offensive is approaching, the specter of a long war
Israel meanwhile says it is ready “for the ground offensive in Gaza and we will make a decision at a political level regarding the form and timing”. According to The Times of Israel, this was stated by the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi. “There are tactical and even strategic considerations that delayed the ground offensive, but which allowed the IDF to prepare as best as possible,” Halevi explained.
“We are using every minute to be even more prepared”, he underlined, noting that in the meantime “the enemy is being hit, we are destroying infrastructure and collecting information for the next phase”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in yesterday’s meeting in Jerusalem with Macron, therefore warned that Israel’s fight against Hamas “could be a long war”.
“We hope that the war will be quick and effective but it could also be a long war,” Netanyahu told Macron yesterday. Hamas, the Israeli prime minister then underlined, “are the new Nazis, and as in the Second World War when the Allies supported the French resistance, the international community supports Israel” in this conflict.
Source-www.adnkronos.com