According to senior defense officials, the Israeli government is not seeking to revive hostage talks and the political leadership is pushing for the gradual annexation of large parts of the Gaza Strip. In closed-room discussions, these officials say the chances of reaching a hostage deal appear slim right now. One of the reasons cited is that since negotiations were suspended, there has been no discussion among international players involved in the talks.
In addition, they say, Israel’s political leaders have not held any discussions with the various security branches about the condition of the hostages. Army commanders in the field who spoke with Haaretz say the recent decision to launch operations in northern Gaza was taken without any in-depth discussion. They said it appeared that the operations were aimed principally at pressuring local residents, who were again told to evacuate the area for the coast as winter is approaching.
It is possible that the operation is laying the groundwork for a decision by the government to put into effect the so-called surrender or starve plan of Maj. Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland. That plan calls for all the residents of northern Gaza to be evacuated to humanitarian zones in the south, with those choosing to remain deemed Hamas operatives and legitimate military targets. While Gazans in the south are getting humanitarian assistance, those who remain in the north will face hunger.
Defense officials who were asked to respond to the Eiland plan pointed out that it violated international law and that the chances of the United States and the international community supporting it were virtually zero. They said it would further undermine the legitimacy of Israel’s entire Gaza offensive.
chances of the United States … supporting it were virtually zero.
By what logic? So far the US has been only supportive of this genocide. Why would this specific thing suddenly cross some line? Absolute nonsense.
yup, the US just won’t support it ‘officially’
yea its Haaretz.
However, U.S. has some lines, for example they did ‘force’ Israel to allow a few hundred trucks of aid in. There were no trucks being allowed in for the first few weeks after Israel started its genocidal campaign; likely due to U.S. pressure (not because they care about Palestinians, but that it would’ve been too bad optics wise), they started allowing some aid in.
Times have changed, Biden allowed Israel to invade Rafah so its likely that as long as its ‘only’ Northern Gaza, they’ll allow it.
