Israeli Soldiers Killed Three Israeli Hostages in Gaza
Three hostages managed to escape from Hamas captivity. They heard the sounds of Israeli soldiers, left their hiding place, with their shirts off, so the soldiers would be able to see that they are not armed, and they carried a white flag, signaling their surrender with their hands up. The Israeli army unit thought they were Hamas militants and a sniper shot and killed two of them. The third ran away to hide, and started shouting “Help” in Hebrew. The Israeli soldiers convinced him to come out from hiding and shot him, killing him also. They then discovered that they were three of the Israeli hostages.
The chief of staff immediately said that shooting civilians who carry the white flag is against the ethos and the values of the Israeli army. That they should not have killed them even if they were Hamas militants who wanted to surrender and give themselves up to the Israeli army. Nevertheless, none of the soldiers involved in the incident was suspended or disciplined.
Israeli Army Exposed a Huge Operating Tunnel Next to the Gaza Border
A well constructed tunnel was discovered just 500 meters from the main checkpoint, Erez, on the northern border between Israel and Gaza. The tunnel runs for four kilometers all the way south, with extensions along the way. It is 50 meters deep and is wide and high enough to enable transportation of vehicles. Israeli sources believe that the tunnel was supposed to hide Hamas militants so that they can join the attack on Israeli targets. The walls of the tunnel are lined with water supply pipes, and electricity and communication cabling.
The person in charge of the construction was the brother of Yehiye Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. Hamas uploaded a video online depicting the brother driving inside the tunnel.
Meanwhile the humanitarian crisis in southern Gaza deteriorates every day. The drinking water is contaminated, there are viruses, germs and widespread fear of epidemic and disease. The hospitals in the area are not capable and big enough to contain all the casualties, properly treat all the people in need, and address all medical needs. Plus there are not enough supplies and food for all the displaced people from the northern part of the Gaza Strip. According to the WHO, Northern Gaza has been left without a functioning hospital due to a lack of staff, fuel and supplies.
All Seaborne Cargo Transportation From the Far East to Israel and Europe Has to Make a Detour Around Africa Due to Security Threats
A rebel organization in Yemen, the Houthis, is threatening the seaborne transportation of commodities from the far east. Usually those vessels transit through the Bab al Mandab strait joining the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. This route significantly shortens the distance to the Mediterranean and Europe through the Suez Canal. But due to the threat, which is now part of the war in Gaza, those vessels need to make a lengthy detour all the way around Africa.
The change in routing will effect the prices of transportation and commodities carried.
The Houthis in Yemen are shooting missiles towards cargo ships and towards targets in Southern Israel. They are a non-government player that wants to take control of Yemen. The American administration is considering intensifying its involvement in countering the threat and even taking operational action. The US government has established an international coalition to address the issue and safeguard shipping in the area.
US Senior Officials Continue Arriving to Put Pressure on Israel
US secretary of defense and the US army chief of staff had meetings in Israel and participated in the war room in Tel Aviv’s army compound. Since the war began almost 80 days ago, the United States has sent a series of senior officials, mainly to make sure that things don’t get out of control and that the war in Gaza doesn’t expand to a global war, or a war on a larger scale that might threaten American interests in the Middle East. Right now the US is putting pressure on Israel to start thinking about the end of the war in a few weeks time and to plan for the day after in terms of who will take control of Gaza, and who will re-build the place.
PM Netanyahu has announced time and again that he will not agree to a Palestinian State, and will not allow the Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza, since they are not qualified to do so, and are planning and educating their children against Israel. On the other hand, PM Netanyahu did not elaborate how he sees the day after and who he thinks should take control of the Gaza Strip, due to the fact that Israel doesn’t want to reoccupy Gaza and be responsible for the administration of the area.
A New Hostage Deal May Be Underway
129 Hostages are still held captive in Gaza. Earlier this week, Hamas released a video of three elderly men, calling on Israel not to leave them behind and to reach a deal for their immediate release. The video was entitled “do not abandon me in my old age”, a well-known Israeli folksong.
While family members continue to meet with Israeli and world leaders, calling upon them to act immediately for the release of their loved ones who are running out of time, senior leaders convey different messages regarding the possibility of a new deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of women, children, the elderly and sick men.
The Israeli Hebrew media reported that Israel is boosting efforts to reach a new deal with Hamas, while indicating that reaching such a deal will prove difficult. Israeli public TV channel Kan 11 News cited Egyptian and Qatari sources, saying they offered Hamas a new deal for the release of women, children the elderly and sick men, in exchange for senior Palestinian prisoners.
US President Biden, however, said he doesn’t expect a new deal any time soon, although the US is certainly pushing for one. This message was reiterated by former secretary of state Hilary Clinton who met with family members of the hostages.
Hamas officials said that no new hostage deal will happen until the Israeli military campaign in Gaza will come to a complete stop. Yet sources involved in the negotiations said that despite dramatic differences between Hamas and Israeli positions, negotiations did not reach a dead-end.
Family members of the hostages and their supporters will continue to hold vigils and rallies calling for the immediate release of all hostages.
And before we say goodbye, we want to wish our followers and readers who celebrate Christmas a Merry Christmas, filled with light.
For Further Reading:
Hostages shot dead: Here, here, here, here
New Tunnel In Gaza: Here, here, here