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Israel's Defense Minister Gallant in Khan Yunis: Operational assessment of the situation
Photo: Ariel Hermoni/dpa
The highly explosive situation in the Middle East is threatening to get worse. While the US government announced retaliation after a deadly attack by pro-Iranian militias on US soldiers in Jordan, Israel, its ally in the Gaza Strip, is planning an extremely sensitive army operation in the southernmost part of the sealed-off coastal area, according to a media report. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians have sought protection from the fighting there and are dependent on help. According to its own statements, the controversial UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) may have to stop all of its work in four weeks if promised funds are not paid. Meanwhile, the US government is increasing the pressure on Jewish extremists in the West Bank with sanctions.
Is Israel's army advancing on Rafah?
In the Gaza war, the Israeli army intends to expand its fighting against Hamas to Rafah in the southernmost part of the territory, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. The military will also reach and destroy the Hamas brigade in Rafah, just as it is currently doing with the Hamas battalions in the area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, the newspaper quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as saying on Thursday evening. There are now said to be more than 1.3 million people in Rafah and the surrounding area. That's more than half of the Gaza Strip's total population of around 2.2 million. The Palestinian civilians are seeking protection from the fighting in extremely small spaces.
Almost four months after Hamas' terrorist attack on southern Israel, Israel's army has moved deep into the Gaza Strip to crush the Islamists. The southern end of the sealed-off coastal area, which borders Egypt with the divided city of Rafah and the border crossing of the same name, is so far out of reach of ground troops. The US newspaper "Wall Street Journal" reported three weeks ago, citing unnamed Israeli and Egyptian sources, that Israeli officials had informed Egypt of a planned military operation along the Gaza side of the border.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gallant spoke on Thursday about Israel's transition from massive bombings in the Gaza Strip to lower-intensity operations, the Pentagon announced in Washington. The USA has been demanding this for a long time. Austin reiterated the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the coastal area. Both defense ministers also discussed support for a diplomatic solution on the Israeli-Lebanese border and stability in the West Bank, it said. There are repeated violent clashes between the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, which is supported by Iran, and the Israeli army in the border area of both countries.
Austin: Dangerous moment
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Austin spoke of a “dangerous moment” after the deaths of two soldiers and one soldier in a drone attack by pro-Iranian militias in Jordan on Thursday. US President Joe Biden “will not tolerate attacks on American troops, and I will not do that either.” They want to avoid a major conflict in the region. Those responsible for the attacks will be held accountable, said Austin. He announced a multi-stage response.
The US government blamed the group “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” which had previously claimed responsibility for the attack. It is a kind of umbrella group for pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, which have been operating together under this name since October 7th. It is unclear how much Iran knew about the attack beforehand, Austin said. However, Iran finances these groups and also partially trains them. Without this kind of support, such attacks on US bases would not occur, Austin said. But he made it clear: "We are not at war with Iran."
UNRWA: Aid funds could run out at the end of February
Regarding the allegations against individual employees of the UN relief agency UNRWA of being involved in the Hamas terrorist acts on October 7th in Israel, Gallant told a UN delegation on Thursday: "Funds from countries around the world were channeled through UNRWA directed and used to strengthen the terrorist infrastructure and to pay terrorists." The organization has lost its legitimacy.
Several Western countries such as Germany and the USA have temporarily stopped payments to UNRWA due to the allegations. "It is difficult to imagine that the people in the Gaza Strip will survive this crisis without UNRWA," warned its chief Philippe Lazzarini. If funding is not resumed, it will most likely be forced to stop work not only in Gaza but also in the entire region at the end of February.
US sanctions violent Jewish settlers in West Bank
The US government, meanwhile, has imposed sanctions on four Jewish settlers accused of taking part in violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. The US Treasury Department released the names of the four Israelis on Thursday (local time), who are also accused of intimidation and destruction of property. US President Biden has repeatedly expressed concern about the increase in violence by extremists, a government official in Washington said earlier. These actions pose a serious threat to peace and security stability in the West Bank, Israel and the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed caution about the sanctions on Thursday evening. "Israel takes appropriate measures against anyone who breaks the law anywhere," Israeli media quoted him as saying. Therefore, “exceptional measures are not necessary.” The "absolute majority" of West Bank settlers are law-abiding citizens, many of whom served in the armed forces to defend Israel, Netanyahu said, according to his office.
aeh/dpa