The Israeli army has begun to call tens of thousands of reserves to “intensify and expand” its operations in Gaza. They said they are “increasing the pressure” with the aim of returning the hostages held in and defeat Hamas’ fighters.
According to the design, the army will attempt new areas and “destroy all infrastructure” above and below the ground. The Israeli Council of Ministers is expected to approve the new military operation very soon.
International negotiations have failed to reach a new agreement on the ceasefire and the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas – 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Further pressure on Hamas
No Israeli hostage has been released since Israel reiterated its attack on March 18th after the collapse of the two -month truce with Hamas.
Since then, Israel has occupied large areas of Gaza, re -displacing hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents.
Israel said its aim was to put pressure on Hamas, a strategy that included exclusion of humanitarian aid that has been valid for more than two months.
Humanitarian organizations have reported acute deficiencies of food, water and medicines, say it is a political starvation that could be equivalent to war crime, a claim that Israel rejects.
And great internal pressure
An expanded attack will exert more pressure on the exhausted reserves, some of whom have been recruited five or six times since the start of the war, and will renew the concerns of hostage families, who have encouraged the government to reach an agreement with Hamas.
The measure will also raise new questions about Netanyahu’s true intentions in Gaza.
He has often been accused by hostage families and opponents of sabotaging negotiations on an agreement and prolonging the war for political purposes, allegations he himself refuses.
And almost 19 months after the war, he has not presented a plan for the next day.
