Palestinians fleeing Gaza City under intense Israeli attack
Palestinians are fleeing areas in Gaza City under intensive Israeli air strikes and also attacks by quadcopters.
We met a couple of these families, and they said that it was [nearly] impossible for them to stay alive as they were fleeing and quadcopters were opening fire on whatever was moving in that area.
Some Palestinians made it safely and were able to flee, but others were trapped in those areas and are unable to leave. There are rescue and medical teams trying to reach that area, but it’s very, very risky and dangerous.
It’s not only the Zeitoun neighbourhood and the Sabra neighbourhood but also the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.
Jabalia is also witnessing a series of intensified attacks, not only aerial air strikes, but also there have been explosive robots where Palestinians are saying this was one of the loudest nights, and it was a nightmare.
It’s obvious that the Israeli forces are surrounding the eastern and northern parts of Gaza City, and this scenario took place in Rafah and Khan Younis.
What’s happening with ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel?
Hamas officials on Monday accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal that would suspend military operations in Gaza for 60 days and secure the release of about half the 20 remaining living Israeli captives.
In past ceasefire talks, Hamas had called for a full cessation of fighting to end Palestinian suffering while Netanyahu had pushed for partial agreements. Since Hamas has agreed to a phased truce that begins with a partial release of captives, Netanyahu has shifted position again, heaping on demands.
Israel is insisting on the release of all Israeli captives and conditions “acceptable to Israel” without clarifying what those terms would entail.
Netanyahu has since pressed ahead with seizing Gaza City, a move that casts serious doubt on his government’s willingness to end what rights groups describe as a genocide.
This is not the first time Israel has shifted position. During the last partial ceasefire, which started on January 19, Israel continued killing Palestinians until it ultimately broke the truce on March 18 and resumed its war on Gaza.
Analysts told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu’s primary motivation is his political survival. Adnan Hayajneh, professor of international relations at the University of Qatar, said the prime minister’s repeated statements that the war could last for “decades” suggested he is “buying time”, particularly in the absence of pressure from the United States.
Netanyahu’s priority is keeping his governing coalition intact, which he views as protection against his ongoing corruption trial, added Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.
“He keeps this government as his insurance policy. As long as he wants the coalition to survive, he will continue the war,” Mekelberg said, adding that this appeases Netanyahu’s far-right allies and could position him for re-election in 2026.
“This is his calculation,” he said. “It is not about the hostages, not Israel’s reputation in the world and not the fate of millions of Palestinians enduring immeasurable suffering.”
A majority of Israelis concerned about global fallout from Gaza war
A new survey by the Israel National Institute for Security Studies shows increasing unease over Israel’s war on Gaza and the country’s international standing as a result. According to the poll, conducted August 11-14, 66.5 percent of Israelis are concerned about possible international isolation as a result of what Israel is doing in Gaza.
In addition, 65 percent said they do not believe the fighting in Gaza will bring the release of captives closer while 43 percent said it fails to advance any of the government’s declared war objectives.
About 61 percent of Israelis believed the return of captives can only be possible through an agreement and the end of the war.
Among other findings, 67 percent of respondents said they were worried about the future of Israeli democracy.
