Both sides cannot afford war again
The latest round of fighting between Israel and Gaza peaking on Sunday when rockets and missiles from Gaza killed four civilians in Israel, and Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians. Israel’s military said that more than 600 rockets and other projectiles– over 150 of them intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system– had been fired at southern Israeli cities and village. It said it attacked about 320 targets belonging to Gaza militant groups.
The violence began two days before when a sniper from the Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, fired at Israeli troops, wounding two soldiers, according to the Israeli military. Islamic Jihad suspects Israel of delaying implementation of previous understandings brokered by Egypt in an effort to end violence and ease frustrated Gaza’s economic woes. Two million Palestinians live in Gaza, the economy of which has suffered years of Israeli and Egyptian blockades as well as recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ West Bank-based rival.
Israel says its blockade is necessary to stop weapons reaching Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since the group seized control of Gaza in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from the area. The Palestinian dead included a commander for Hamas’s armed wing who Israel alleged was targeted due to his role in transferring money from Iran to militant groups in the Gaza Strip. It was a rare admission of a targeted killing by Israel’s army.
But Hamas are also in a thorny spot. A year of heavy protests at the Israeli border have yielded no benefits, and the residents of Gaza have been protesting over dire living conditions. It is keen to prove itself as an effective confrontation force, but its residents appear to have little appetite for the seemingly foreseeable destruction if Hamas escalates things too far
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military “to continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip”. He said he had also ordered “tanks, artillery and infantry forces” to reinforce troops already deployed near Gaza. In addition to those killed and injured, the rockets repeatedly set off air raid alarms in southern Israel and sent residents running to shelters while also damaging houses. At least 35 of the rockets fell in urban areas, according to the army.
The army said its tanks and planes hit more than 250 militant targets in Gaza in response. It targeted militant sites and in some cases militants themselves as well as their homes if they were found to be storing weapons. Several buildings in Gaza City were destroyed. Israel said one of the buildings included Hamas military intelligence and security offices. Israel said another destroyed building housed Hamas and Islamic Jihad offices. After militant group Hamas seemingly offered a ceasefire following weekend attacks, Israel has drawn back its protective measures. Hundreds of rockets were fired into Israel over the weekend, prompting schools to close.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement on Sunday that the militant group was “not interested in a new war.” He said the group was ready to “return to the state of calm” if Israel stopped its attacks “and immediately starts implementing understandings about a dignified life.” International pressure was stepped up on Hamas to end the latest escalation. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called for a halt to “indiscriminate rocket attacks” from Gaza and expressed support for Egyptian and United Nations mediation efforts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Hamas’ attacks and urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint.” The UN said it was working with Egypt to try to end hostilities. Germany echoed Guterres’ call for maximum restraint. Deputy German government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer said the German government strongly condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel.
“Israel has the right to defend its security and respond properly to attacks,” Demmer said, adding that it was now important the ceasefire be maintained and that the situation was not further worsen. The White House offered its full support of Netanyahu’s response.
US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: “Once again, Israel faces a bombardment of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defence of its citizens To the Gazan people these terrorist acts against Israel will bring you nothing but more misery. END the violence and work towards peace it can happen!”
Hamas, an Islamic militant group entirely opposed to the existence of Israel, seized power from the Western-backed Palestinian forces in 2007 and has since fought several wars with Israel. Previous rocket attacks have often resulted in Egyptian-mediated agreements to reduce the intensity of the 10-year blockade that has crippled the Gaza Strip.
Hamas and its allies Islamic Jihad initiated the latest attacks by claiming Israel had failed to deliver on its promises to loosen the blockade. It also coincided with a moment of weakness for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, deep in post-election partnership negotiations with his hard-line political partners. But Hamas are also in a thorny spot. A year of heavy protests at the Israeli border have yielded no benefits, and the residents of Gaza have been protesting over dire living conditions. It is keen to prove itself as an effective confrontation force, but its residents appear to have little appetite for the seemingly foreseeable destruction if Hamas escalates things too far.
