Israel No end in sight to the Gaza war, even at Christmas
The Gaza war continues to rage at Christmas - despite reports of progress, there is no breakthrough in sight in the talks on a ceasefire.
24.12.2024, 04:47
SDA
An Israeli delegation is waiting in Qatar for a response from the Islamist Hamas on details of an agreement, "but a positive response seems unlikely", the Israeli news website "ynet" quoted a source as saying. In the evening, Israeli President Izchak Herzog recalled the approximately 100 hostages who were still being held captive in Gaza after 444 days "without basic humanitarian aid, medicine or visits from the Red Cross".
Israeli army: another projectile intercepted from Yemen
Meanwhile, according to military sources, Israeli air defenses intercepted another missile approaching Israel from Yemen during the night. It was reported that the projectile had been fired from outside the country's borders. Warning sirens had been wailing in several areas in the center of Israel. The sirens had been triggered because of possible falling debris as a result of the launch. According to the Magen David Adom rescue service, paramedics had to treat at least 20 people who had fallen or suffered anxiety attacks while rushing into the shelters.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, the Houthi militias allied with Hamas have been attacking targets in Israel and ships in the Red Sea with rockets and drones. After the overnight shelling, the militia declared that it would continue its attacks until the aggression in Gaza ceased. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced harsh military strikes against the Islamists in Yemen on Sunday due to the continued shelling. On Saturday night, a rocket from Yemen hit the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, slightly injuring 16 people.
Israel claims responsibility for the killing of Hamas foreign leader for the first time
Meanwhile, Israel confirmed for the first time the killing of the foreign head of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, in July in Iran's capital Tehran. The statement was made during a speech by Defense Minister Israel Katz on action against the Houthi militia in Yemen, which is firing rockets and drones at Israel. "We will attack the strategic infrastructure (of the Houthis) and behead their leaders. Just as we did with Hanija, Sinwar and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon," said Katz, according to his ministry.
Haniya was killed in the night of July 31 by a targeted explosion in an Iranian government guest house. Israel killed the head of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27 in Beirut and the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar, on October 16.
The USA, Egypt and Qatar have been mediating between Israel and Hamas for months, as the two parties are not negotiating directly with each other. The aim is a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. An unnamed Israeli representative told Israel's Kan channel that without Hamas providing a list of hostages who could be released, there would be no further progress.
Netanyahu insists on the elimination of Hamas
Although Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke in parliament of "some progress", he reiterated that he would not agree to an end to the war until Hamas had been completely eliminated. The war was triggered by the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, which left more than 1,200 people dead and more than 250 displaced. Since then, according to Palestinian figures, more than 45,200 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, although the independently unverifiable number does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Meanwhile, three Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion at a Hamas weapons and ammunition depot, according to the army. It is being investigated whether the weapons cache was remotely detonated by Hamas fighters. The number of soldiers killed in the Gaza war and in the fight against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia was given as 821 on an army memorial page.
Christmas mass and subdued celebrations in Bethlehem
Meanwhile, Pope Francis is expected to speak out urgently against war and violence at the Christmas masses in Rome and recall the suffering of the people. In a recent speech at the Vatican, he lamented the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza. After children in Gaza had been bombed the day before, he said: "This is cruelty. This is not war. I want to say this because it touches the heart". Israel called his words "disappointing", as the pontiff ignored the fact that Israel was waging a multi-front war that had been forced upon it.
Meanwhile, Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem - according to tradition the birthplace of Jesus Christ - are set to be rather subdued this year due to the war in Gaza. The procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and the midnight mass in Bethlehem will take place as usual. However, there will be no festive decorations in the small town on the West Bank and no lighting of a Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity.
