Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he would only accept a partial cease-fire deal that would not terminate the ongoing eight-month conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu's stance potentially jeopardizes a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal. His remarks were made during an interview on Israeli Channel 14, where he stated his readiness to negotiate a deal for the release of some of the 120 hostages still held in Gaza. However, he emphasized the continuation of the military campaign to eliminate Hamas.
This development complicates the three-phased U.S. cease-fire plan, which aims to secure the release of remaining hostages in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 37,400 people have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli offensives since the conflict began. The war was initiated in response to Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 hostages.
In related updates, Palestinian officials reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City late Sunday resulted in the deaths of nine people, including two health workers. The strikes hit a clinic in Gaza City, killing Hani al-Jaafrawi, director of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency department, and another health worker, Mohammed Salah. Additionally, seven people were killed in a separate airstrike that demolished a home in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood.
Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Aden, a suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a vessel on Monday. This attack occurred approximately 450 kilometers southeast of Nishtun, suggesting a potential escalation by the Houthis in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The U.S. has recently brought home the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower following an eight-month deployment that included responding to Houthi assaults in the region. The attack further strains already volatile international waters crucial for global trade routes.
In European diplomatic efforts, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock renewed calls for a cease-fire in Gaza on Monday. Baerbock emphasized the necessity of a cease-fire to prevent further escalation, including potential conflict on the Israeli-Lebanese border. She is scheduled to visit Israel, the West Bank, and Lebanon for discussions on the ongoing situation.
These recent developments underscore the complexities and escalating tensions surrounding the conflict in Gaza and its wider regional implications.