An Israeli soldier operates in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 20, 2023. Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS
The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, made a rare visit to Egypt, engaging in diplomatic talks on a potential new ceasefire to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza and the release of more hostages. Negotiations involve discussions on which hostages held by Palestinian Islamist militants could be freed in a new truce and the possible release of prisoners by Israel in return. The U.S. President, Joe Biden, expressed uncertainty about a second Israel-Hamas hostage release deal, stating ongoing efforts. The United Nations Security Council vote on increasing aid to Gaza has been delayed at the U.S.’s request.
The death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 20,000, with thousands more believed to be trapped under rubble. Israel claims Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people, mainly civilians, on October 7. The Palestinian official stated that Hamas seeks a complete end to the Israeli war on Gaza, rejecting temporary pauses, while Israel insists on limited humanitarian halts until Hamas is defeated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the war would end only with the eradication of Hamas, the release of all hostages, and Gaza posing no threat to Israel. Western allies, including the U.S., have urged Israel to scale down its military campaign in Gaza. In a significant development, Yemen’s Houthi forces targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians against Israel, prompting the U.S. to establish a multinational force.
The conflict inside Gaza has intensified since the collapse of the last truce on December 1, with ground combat spreading across the territory. International aid groups warn of a humanitarian catastrophe, with 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and facing shortages of water and medical care. Fighting in the north has intensified, and in the south, there is intense combat around Khan Younis. Hamas employs guerrilla-style warfare, utilizing a network of underground tunnels, with Israel claiming to have discovered tunnels beneath Gaza City.
Israel accuses Hamas of locating military infrastructure among civilians and using them as human shields, while Hamas denies these allegations. The situation remains complex, with diplomatic efforts ongoing and a lack of consensus on a lasting ceasefire.
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