Netanyahu aims to eradicate Palestinian collective memory: Analyst
Adel Abdel-Ghafar, a political analyst, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is punishing Palestinians collectively in Gaza in the absence of a victory to present to his own constituency.
“It is clear that this is less about eradicating Hamas and more about the collective punishment of Palestinians,” Abdel-Ghafar, director of the foreign policy and security programme at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told Al Jazeera.
The destruction of schools, mosques, churches, historical archives, among other institutions, he said, is a form of collective punishment aimed at eradicating the collective memory of Palestinians.
“Netanyahu can’t go back to his constituency and sell a ceasefire without coming out with some sort of win – and so far there has not been a major win – so the continued destruction of Gaza is his own win,” he added.
Gaza attacks improve chances of captive release: Israeli minister
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has told his US counterpart that Israeli military attacks on the Strip have enabled favourable conditions for a captive release agreement to be reached with Hamas.
Gallant made the comments during an overnight phone call with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, his office said in a statement.
Israeli army incursions and bombardment of Gaza “have led to the conditions necessary to achieve an agreement for the return of hostages, which is the highest moral imperative at this time”, Gallant said.
With Gaza’s death toll surpassing 38,700, and its people facing dire conditions, both Israel and Hamas are under increased international pressure to reach a truce – most recently based on a UN-backed plan outlined by US President Joe Biden in May.
However, Israeli leaders continue to insist on Hamas’s destruction before ending the war, a reality on the battlefield that appears far off after more than nine months of fighting.
And over 40 hostages have been killed in the bombardments and cross fire.
Netanyahu slammed for saying captives ‘suffering but not dying’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces fierce criticism for dismissing the danger faced by those still held in captivity in Gaza.
Netanyahu reportedly said during a cabinet meeting there’s no reason to stress as “the kidnapped are suffering, but they are not dying”.
Families of the abducted demanded the prime minister to “immediately explain” his remarks.
The comments “are not only deeply hurtful to the hostages’ families but also factually inaccurate and dangerously irresponsible”, said a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“The grim reality is undeniable: hostages have already been murdered in captivity. More hostages may be losing their lives at this very moment”, it added.
It is not clear how many captives held in the Strip are still alive. According to Israeli media, about 120 are believed to be there with the Israeli army saying at least 42 are dead.
