Israel Palestine Conflict: A senior Iranian general was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Syrian neighbourhood of Damascus, amid the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas. Although terrorist organisations in the area with ties to Iran promised vengeance for the deaths, no immediate action was taken in retaliation. Hezbollah and Israel’s border conflicts have also gotten more intense, with daily rocket, airstrike, and shelling exchanges occurring across the border.
Human Toll in the Conflict
About 20,400 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, which has also destroyed parts of Gaza and forced nearly all 2.3 million residents to flee their homes. The increasing number of Israeli troop deaths—156 since the start of the ground offensive—may weaken public support for the war, which was instigated on October 7 when terrorists led by Hamas invaded communities in southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages.
Targeted Strike on Iranian General Razi Mousavi
An Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps senior officer was killed on Monday by an Israeli airstrike in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Brig. Gen. Razi Mousavi died in an attack in the Sayeda Zeinab suburb of Damascus, according to the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim. Israel believed that Mousavi was heavily involved in Tehran’s efforts to supply weapons to terror proxies in the region, including the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon. Mousavi was in charge of coordinating the military alliance between Iran and Syria.
Iran’s Response to Airstrike on General Mousavi
Israel “will certainly pay for this crime,” declared Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi issued a statement, which the Times of Israel reported said, “This action is without a doubt another sign of frustration, helplessness, and incapacity of the usurping Zionist regime in the region.” During a press conference on Monday night, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, declined to comment on the reports.
Israeli Prime Minister’s Stance
Although Palestinian residents in Gaza who follow Israeli evacuation orders cannot be guaranteed safety, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the fight against Hamas terrorists. After touring Israeli troops in northern Gaza on Monday, Netanyahu told Likud Party lawmakers that the war was far from over and denied media reports that his government might declare a ceasefire. He said that without using military force, Israel would not be able to free the last of its hostages that were being held by Hamas.
Hostage Families’ Emotional Protest and Netanyahu’s Prerequisites for Peace
In the meantime, hostage families sat in the room staring down at the premier while obstructing him every now and then with posters of their loved ones hidden behind plexiglass. “Now! Now! Now!” the family members shouted. In addition, Netanyahu outlined three “prerequisites for peace” in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. Their goal is to “destroy Hamas, demilitarise Gaza and deradicalise the whole of Palestinian society.” “The US, UK, France, Germany, and many other countries support Israel’s intention to demolish the terror group. To achieve that goal, its military capabilities must be dismantled and its political rule over Gaza must end. Second, Israel must also ensure that Gaza is never again used as a base to attack Israel. Among other things, this will require establishing a temporary security zone on the perimeter of Gaza and an inspection mechanism on the border between Gaza and Egypt that meets Israel’s security needs and prevents smuggling of weapons into the territory,” the article read.
Netanyahu’s Diplomatic References and Historical Analogies
Netanyahu further noted that “both countries are great allies of the US and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe and Asia” and cited the “successful deradicalization” that occurred “in Germany and Japan after the Allied victory in World War II.” He additionally stated that following the attacks of September 11, 2001, “visionary Arab leaders in the Gulf have led efforts to deradicalise their societies and transform their countries.”
Protest Outside Netanyahu’s Home
Outside Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home, demonstrators voiced their displeasure and accused the prime minister of caving in to US pressure. Protesters shouted “blue and white Gaza” and “expulsion, settlement, occupation.” A permanent ceasefire in exchange for Hamas and Islamic Jihad ceding control of the Gaza Strip has been offered by Egypt, but both groups have turned down the offer, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters on Monday.
Stalemate in Cairo Negotiations
Both parties, who have been in separate negotiations with Egyptian mediators in Cairo, have refused to make any concessions other than the potential release of additional hostages taken on October 7, the day that militants invaded southern Israel and massacred 1,200 people.
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