Day 112 of the Israel-Hamas Gaza War
1. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague Did Not Order Israeli to Stop the War
On Friday January 26th, the International Court of Justice in the Hague ordered Israel to do everything it can to prevent mass killing of civilians, it ordered Israel to press charges against officials who expressed opinions, that may sound like encouraging wrongdoing, which may be interpreted as support for genocide, it also ordered Israel to enable humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The court ordered Israel to issue a comprehensive report to the court in which it will detail all measures taken in order to comply with the court orders. The court ordered Israel to do all it can to control and stop incitement against Palestinians in Gaza. The court did not dismiss the accusation of South Africa against Israel of genocide, according to the request that was presented by the Israeli legal delegation, and it will discuss the case in the next months, saying that South Africa has standing in the court, and Israel is a party to the international convention. That means, that down the road, there is still a threat that the ICJ can rule that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The court also said it was "gravely concerned" about the welfare of the over 130 Israeli hostages abducted on October 7 and still held by Hamas. The World Court called for the immediate release of the captives.
2. Twenty-one Reserve Soldiers Killed in Gaza, in the Single Deadliest Incident in the War
Twenty-one reserve soldiers from infantry and combat engineering platoons, ranging in ages between 22 and 40, were killed earlier this week in Gaza, the highest number of casualties in a single incident since the IDF ground offensive in Gaza began. According to an initial IDF investigation and media reports, the blast that killed the soldiers occurred after Hamas fighters fired an RPG toward a tank guarding the IDF unit that was placing explosives inside two Palestinian buildings to demolish them. Analysts believe that the high death toll among IDF fighters, especially those in reserve duty, may spark a public debate about the goals of the war and its cost.
IDF Spokesman, Admiral Hagari said in a statement that the reservist soldiers were working to demolish infrastructure near the Gazan border, so that Israeli residents of southern communities could safely return to their homes.
The foreign media reported that the IDF has demolished Palestinian homes and buildings in eastern Gaza, with the aim of creating a buffer zone between Israeli and Gazan territory. Israel is facing growing international criticism over this practice, perceived as part of a wider disregard for civilian housing and property, as well as for the growing number of civilian casualties.
3. 136 Hostages Still held in Gaza, Qatar and Netanyahu Exchange Accusations and Public Protests Continue
136 hostages have been held for 112 days by Hamas in Gaza, while a new deal between Hamas and Israel for their release is yet to be tabled. In a recording leaked from a meeting held earlier this week with family members of the hostages, PM Netanyahu pointed the finger at Qatar, for not putting more pressure on Hamas to reach a deal, although it could. Netanyahu said at the meeting: “you don't hear me thanking Qatar... It is essentially no different from the UN or Red Cross, and in a certain sense is even more problematic – I have no illusions about them."
In response, a spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it was "appalled" by PM Netanyahu’s statement, calling it "irresponsible”, and one that “destroys the efforts to save lives. If what he said is true, [he] is obstructing the mediation of a deal for political reasons, [to] save his career." Ha’aretz reported that the deputy spokesperson for the U.S. Secretary of State, Vedant Patel, reiterated, in a press conference, Qatar’s central role in achieving a Hamas-Israel ceasefire/hostage deal. Patel said: “Qatar has been an integral, irreplaceable, key regional partner, not just as it relates to this current ongoing conflict, but other priorities that the United States has had in the region”.
In the meantime, public protests, and advocacy efforts by family members of the hostages and their supporters continue. At a Knesset meeting earlier this week, a female hostage released from captivity said that the women still held by Hamas are subjected to ongoing sexual violence, and voiced the concern that some of them may be pregnant as a result of that.
Thousands protested in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, in pouring rain. Women’s groups organized a vigil and march in Jerusalem, in support of hostages’ families who erected a small tent city near the Prime Minister’s formal residence in Jerusalem. Women activists also blocked the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, calling for an immediate deal for the release of all hostages.
According to media reports, there may be a breakthrough in the negotiations for a ceasfire and hostages’ release deal, depending on the ICJ ruling.
4. Israel Still Has No Plan For the Day After the War is Over
More than 110 days after October 7th, and Israel still has no plan for Gaza after the war. PM Netanyahu keeps saying and announcing three main points: the objectives of the war are to dismantle Hamas and bring back the 136 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. He continually emphasizes that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will have any part in any solution after the war, and that Israel will have full control over all security issues. But PM Netanyahu has not yet revealed who will control Gaza when the war is over, and refrains from initiating a discussion in the government about “the day after” (an expression that refers to the political solution for Gaza when the war is over).
There is a growing public debate surrounding the end of the war. In the last few days, the Israeli army started to release many reservists, and has reduced the overall amount of army units. The US administration is putting pressure on Israel to allow the Palestinians, who were evacuated to the south, to return to their homes in the Northern part of the Gaza Strip. Israel refrains from doing so, for two main reasons: it cannot allow the Palestinians to go back, while the Israeli communities on the border with Gaza are still displaced from their homes, and they are afraid that together with the civilians, Hamas operators and militia men will reoccupy northern Gaza. The latter has already started happening. The international community is calling on Israel to end the war.
Meanwhile Israel has not succeeded in eliminating Hamas, the organization is still in power, its leader, Yehyeh Sinwar is still monitoring all the Hamas defense forces all over Gaza and it seems like he his far from surrender. That strengthens the public debate in Israel on the questions of how and when the war will be over, how and when all the communities will be able to safely return to their homes, and how and when Israel will be able to provide full security for all its citizens.
In addition, Israeli members of Knesset and other public and political influencers are pushing for a plan to renew the Israeli settlements in Gaza and have already established a political lobby to put it on the agenda. The Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip were evacuated during the disengagement process back in 2005 nearly nineteen years ago.
5. PM Netanyahu Met Mayors from Northern Communities, but Had no Answers
Earlier this week, PM Netanyahu had a long meeting with all the mayors of the communities from northern Israel. Many of those communities were evacuated shortly after October 7th, for their safety, due to the fact that Hizbollah militants have occupied positions on the border with Israel and use their proximity to endanger Israeli communities. Hizbollah targeted, for the second time, an intelligence army base in the north of Israel, causing damage to the equipment there. Hizbollah continues to fire rockets and missiles towards Israel. The mayors made it clear to PM Netanyahu that they will not call on their communities to return to their homes as long as Israel is not able to provide unequivocal long term security for all it’s citizens. US and other mediators are making efforts to reach an agreement with Lebanon, that Hizbollah will withdraw from the border, and reposition its forces miles away from the border with Israel. There is no break through as yet, and the people are losing their patience. Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu has promised compensation in billions of dollars to the farmers and communities who have lost income and revenue.
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