Israel has called up military reservists in response to escalating concerns that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza may unravel. The move comes as Hamas struggles to meet a critical deadline to release additional Israeli hostages, heightening fears of renewed conflict in the region.
The ceasefire, which took effect on January 19 and was mediated by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. support, has been under strain. Hamas initially agreed to free three more hostages but later suspended the process, citing alleged Israeli violations of the agreement. This suspension has increased anxieties about the stability of the truce.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the truce was intended to facilitate the swift release of hostages held in Gaza. \"If Hamas stops the hostage releases then there is no ceasefire and there is war,\" Katz stated at Israeli defense headquarters in Tel Aviv. He warned that a new conflict would be more intense and could align with controversial plans proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Gaza.
In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would resume \"intense fighting\" if Hamas does not meet the hostage release deadline. He confirmed that additional military forces are being deployed to southern Israel near Gaza, including the mobilization of reservists.
The situation has also drawn international attention. During a White House meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Trump urged the king to convey the seriousness of the situation to Hamas, warning of severe consequences if hostages are not freed by the set deadline.
The ongoing standoff threatens to reignite a conflict that has already caused significant devastation in the Gaza Strip, leading to internal displacement, shortages of essential supplies, and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Residents of Gaza have expressed deep concern over the potential collapse of the ceasefire, urging both Hamas and Israeli leaders to agree on an extension. \"We had barely started believing that a truce would happen and that a solution was on the way, God willing,\" said Lotfy Abu Taha, a resident of Rafah in southern Gaza. \"The people are suffering. The people are the victims.\"
In addition to Hamas, the Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, has linked the fate of their hostages to Netanyahu's actions, stating that stability can only be achieved through a hostage-prisoner swap deal.
Amidst these tensions, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has indicated resistance to Trump’s plans to resettle Palestinians in Gaza, reflecting broader regional discontent with proposed U.S. interventions.
Since the escalation of conflict on October 7, 2023, over 1,200 Israelis have been killed and more than 250 taken hostage by Hamas-led forces. In retaliation, Israel's military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. Efforts to negotiate further hostage releases and achieve a full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza are ongoing, but the path to peace remains uncertain.
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Israel calls up reservists as fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire rise
cgtn.com
