Tel Aviv:
Not even 24 hours had passed since the ceasefire was announced between Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas. Meanwhile the ceasefire was broken. On Thursday, the Israeli army again launched an air strike on Gaza, in which at least 73 people are reported dead. According to the latest reports of Sky News and AFP, Israel had bombed Gaza from the sky in the early hours of Thursday. AFP quoted Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency as saying that women and children also lost their lives in the Israeli airstrike. More than 200 civilians have been injured.
Gaza Civil Defense Agency spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP: “Since the ceasefire agreement was announced on the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces have killed 73 people. This includes 20 children and 25 women. “The Israeli army is still bombing.”
Trump had talked about ceasefire and confirmed
There is a war going on between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Last night itself there was a report of agreement between the two on ceasefire. Even Donald Trump, who is going to take oath as the President of America on January 20, had confirmed the ceasefire on the ‘Truth’ social media platform. Later, a statement was issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that many things have been agreed upon to stop the war that has been going on for 15 months. But, complete agreement is yet to be reached on some points. All things will be finalized late at night.
Then Netanyahu refused to go to the cabinet meeting
According to the Israeli Times report, a meeting of the Israeli cabinet was scheduled to be held on Thursday to give final approval to the ceasefire deal. At the last moment, PM Netanyahu refused to attend this meeting. Netanyahu’s office alleged that Hamas had retreated from the terms of the ceasefire deal. Hamas was asking for more relaxation than the fixed limit. This cannot be accepted. According to the report, Hamas has rejected Israel’s allegations. He says that Hamas continues to abide by all the conditions of the ceasefire.
Israel’s right wing people take to the streets against ceasefire
Where many countries including America and India called the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas a good step. At the same time, voices are being raised against this deal within Israel itself. Right wing people in Israel have been protesting against the possible deal since Tuesday. They say that the ceasefire deal with Hamas means that Israel has bowed down before it. Hamas has massacred Israelis. This deal will weaken Israel. Therefore no deal should be made with Hamas.
According to the report of Times of Israel, senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, while reacting to the ceasefire, called it a defeat for Israel. Khalil said that it will be told with pride to future generations. But, on Thursday morning the Israeli army again launched an air strike on Gaza.
Earlier there was talk of ceasefire of 42 days
Earlier, news agency AFP had said in its report on Monday that the first phase of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could last for a total of 42 days. In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Hamas can release 33 hostages, including 5 women. Whereas Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners in return. After 15 days, Hamas will release the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, both sides will also keep talking about permanent ceasefire.
The last talks between Israel and Hamas regarding the ceasefire deal were held in Qatar on January 14. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Al Thani hosted this conversation. Intelligence agency Mossad chief David Barnia and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar had participated from Israel’s side for the ceasefire deal. From the US side, Trump’s representative Steve Witkoff and Biden’s representative Brett McGurk were present.
Trump and Biden both took credit for ceasefire
Late Wednesday, a competition was also seen between Israel and Hamas to take credit for the ceasefire. Donald Trump took credit for the ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages by posting on the social media platform ‘Truth’. Trump said, “The deal regarding the release of hostages in the Middle East has been finalized. Hamas will soon release the people held hostage in Gaza. This historic agreement was possible because of our victory in the presidential elections.”
Joe Biden mentioned the ceasefire deal in his last speech at the White House. Biden said, “Our diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire never stopped. This agreement became possible only after increasing pressure on Hamas, changes in regional equations and ceasefire in Lebanon.”
India called ceasefire a good step
India also reacted to the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas and called it an excellent step. The Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement on its website on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry said, “We hope that this will ensure humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. We have always appealed for the release of all hostages, a ceasefire and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.”
Hamas carried out rocket attacks on 7 October 2023
By the way, enmity between Israel and Hamas has been going on for a long time. But, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel so far. Hamas had fired at least 5000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. Hamas fighters infiltrated into Israel through the tunnel and massacred Israeli civilians.
Hamas had taken 251 people hostage
After the rocket attack, Hamas fighters took 251 Israeli citizens hostage. They were hidden inside a tunnel in Gaza. Some of these have already been released in the ceasefire. Currently 94 people are hostage, while according to the Israeli military, 34 have died.
Israeli PM had talked about the elimination of Hamas
According to Israeli media, 1200 people lost their lives in Hamas attacks. Israel started retaliating against Hamas from the very next day of these attacks. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had talked about the elimination of Hamas. He had said that the war will continue until Israel erases the name and trace of Hamas in Gaza.
First ground and then air action
Israel first took ground action on the Gaza Strip. Then he also started carrying out air strikes. Every day Israeli missiles drop bombs on the Gaza Strip.
How many deaths in the war so far?
According to the UN report, more than 46 thousand people have died so far in the ongoing war in Gaza Strip. So far 46,006 Palestinians have been killed in the war. 109,378 have been injured. The Israeli army has said, without providing any evidence, that it has killed more than 17,000 Hamas fighters. However, the actual number is much higher than this.