Netanyahu announces Israel’s post-war plans and declares open to humanitarian pauses in the Gaza conflict

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, seems to have given in to US pressure on the humanitarian breaks in the fighting against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu agreed to have “tactical little pauses” to let humanitarian supplies to reach Gaza, but he rejected demands for a truce without the release of captives in an interview with the US station ABC News.

Israel has been under pressure from the US to provide “humanitarian pauses” in the Gaza War. This is not the same as a ceasefire since there will be brief breaks in the fighting to enable humanitarian supplies to reach the area devastated by the conflict. Instead of a one-week truce, there will be a two- to three-hour break in hostilities.

In addition, Netanyahu disclosed his post-conflict strategies, declaring that Israel would maintain “overall security responsibility” over the Gaza Strip for “an indefinite period” after the conclusion of hostilities.

One month has passed since the horrific terrorist assault on southern Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7 of last year, which sparked the start of the Gaza Strip conflict. Over 1,400 people were killed when terrorists tore through Israeli settlements close to the Gaza border. The majority of the victims were non-combatant women, children, and foreign nationals.

Israel retaliated by declaring war on Hamas and pledging to eradicate the political and terrorist group from Palestine. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by Hamas, over 10,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict.

The Israeli bombings have been more intense in recent days, and there is also a planned ground attack taking place in the area under Hamas control. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli soldiers have arrived at the shore and divided Gaza City in half.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire as the conflict enters its one-month anniversary, stating that the Gaza Strip has turned into a “graveyard for children” and a “crisis of humanity.”