An update on the Israel-Hamas war
Image: Israel Defense Forces/Hamas/CNN
Israel continued to target the Gaza Strip with airstrikes early this morning, as the ongoing war with Palestinian militant group Hamas enters its seventh day.
In a national address late Wednesday, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is committed to capturing or killing all of Hamas’ leaders, destroying the groups' militant units, and making it impossible for Hamas to govern in the Gaza Strip (which it has controlled since the last public elections in 2006).
Israel has stationed thousands of troops near the Gaza border this week, but military officials yesterday said no decision has been made on a potential ground offensive (though overnight, Israel called on the UN to help evacuate roughly 1.1 million residents from northern Gaza).
- The Israeli energy ministry said it would continue to cut off all food, energy, and water supplies to Gaza until all of the ~150 hostages captured in Hamas’ attack last Saturday are returned.
- Officials also confirmed at least 1,300 Israeli residents died and 3,000+ have been injured since the war began, including 27 American deaths.
🇵🇸 In the Gaza Strip: The region’s only operational power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon after Israel cut off its supply earlier in the week, causing power cuts that have affected nearly all local hospitals, communications systems, and ATMs/banks.
- Gaza has been consistently hit by Israeli airstrikes over the past six days, which have killed at least 1,500 people and wounded 6,600 others, according to its health ministry.
- Israel says its goal with the airstrikes is to target Hamas members located in Gaza, but the area’s dense population, combined with Hamas’ use of civilian sites for military purposes, has resulted in hundreds of reported deaths and injuries among Palestinian civilians.
🇺🇸 US involvement: Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East this week as part of a diplomatic effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading to nearby regions, to help secure the release of Israeli hostages, and to find ways to protect civilians from violence.
- In a meeting yesterday with Israeli PM Netanyahu, Blinken pledged US support for the country’s military and said the pair discussed ways to avoid civilian deaths in Gaza.
- Blinken is scheduled to meet with the leaders of several Arab nations over the weekend, including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
📊 Flash poll (long-form): People of all different ages, backgrounds, cultures, and faiths read this newsletter every day. So if anyone feels compelled to share their take on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, please do so below. We’ll share the most thought-provoking and insightful responses on Monday.
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the Biden admin is right to express support for Israel in its time of need, and also stress the need to prevent the eruption of violence from affecting regular citizens in Gaza, or from spreading to involve Palestinians in the West Bank.
- Others contend that the task for every government with a direct interest and power to influence the situation is to counter Hamas’s terrorism, and those who sponsor it, with firmness – tempered by discrimination.
- “The Attack on Israel Demands Unity and Resolve” –NY Times Editorial Board
- “Hamas’s strike on Israel drags the Middle East back into U.S. focus” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “An Israel-Hamas Prisoner Exchange Now” –Haaretz Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the US and other world governments should give Israel a long leash in its forthcoming attempt to destroy Hamas and ensure that nothing like Saturday’s attack ever happens again.
- Others contend that US politicians would be wrong to force the government to choose between providing Israel or Ukraine with military aid, since the two conflicts are different enough that the US can supply both nations.
- “Israel Needs a Long Leash to Destroy Hamas” –National Review Editorial Board
- “The False Choice Between Ukraine and Israel” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Israel's annihilation of Hamas is the proportionate response” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
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