US officials expect the current phase of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operation in the southern Gaza Strip to last until January. writes about this CNN Quoted from US government sources.
After the mainland phase, the Israeli military will move to “targeted attacks” against individual leaders and militants of the Hamas movement. However, US officials expressed concern about the impact of the Israeli military’s actions in the coming weeks, warning Israel of possible civilian casualties and urging Israel to avoid “destructive tactics” used in northern Gaza.
On December 5, the IDF announced the entry into the third phase of the war against Hamas, focusing on the offensive in the south of the Gaza Strip after capturing the movement’s key positions in the north. Clashes continue, including in the city of Khan Younis. According to Israeli intelligence, most Hamas militants are located here.
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Gaza Strip must be completely demilitarized and only the Israeli Armed Forces can ensure this process. In November, Netanyahu also said that after the end of the war, Israel would establish “full security control” in Gaza and would not entrust it to international forces.
The situation in the Middle East escalated after thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, when Hamas announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcedthat the country is at war.
Israeli response The aim of Operation Iron Sword was to repel the attack, free more than 200 hostages, including foreigners, and destroy Hamas. In order to achieve this goal, Israel launched major rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip from the first day of the operation. At the same time, the Israeli National Security Council decided to stop the supply of water, food, goods, electricity and fuel to the sector. Humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza began to be sent through the Rafah checkpoint only after October 20, and it was stated that their volume was insufficient.
27 October Israel announced About the “expansion” of the ground operation in Gaza. It is not known exactly when the operation started, but before the operation, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes and moved to shelters and the south of the region. November 5, as part of the ground operation of IDF forces surrounded Gaza city and supplies cut off, still exists in central Gaza to continue fights.
Formerly American political scientist Mearsheimer statedBiden is afraid of getting in the way of the Israel lobby.