International
oi-Ruchika Pareek
Even
as
negotiations
about
a
possible
truce
with
Hamas
under
particular
conditions
continue,
Israeli
Prime
Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu
has
reaffirmed
his
government’s
goal
to
establish
complete
military
control
of
the
Gaza
Strip.
His
comments
were
made
as
the
region’s
humanitarian
crisis
worsened
and
conflicts
escalated,
drawing
attention
from
around
the
world.
“The
fighting
is
intense,
and
we
are
making
progress,” Netanyahu
said
in
a
video
message
posted
on
his
Telegram
channel
on
Monday.
We’re
going
to
seize
control
of
the
entire
Strip.
“We
will
not
give
up,”
he
added,
emphasising
the
importance
of
persistent
perseverance.
However,
we
must
take
action
that
cannot
be
halted
if
we
want
to
succeed.
According
to
India
Tv
Netanyahu
also
stated
that
in
order
to
avoid
a
full-scale
famine,
Israel
would
allow
a
“basic
amount”
of
food
to
enter
Gaza.
He
warned
that
even
Israel’s
supporters
would
find
it
difficult
to
support
the
nation
in
the
face
of
“images
of
mass
starvation,”
saying,
“We
must
not
allow
the
population
[of
Gaza]
to
sink
into
famine,
both
for
practical
and
diplomatic
reasons.”
Ceasefire
Conditions
Under
Review
On
Sunday,
Netanyahu’s
office
released
a
statement
laying
out
Israel’s
conditions
for
a
potential
ceasefire
agreement
with
Hamas.
These
include
the
release
of
all
hostages,
the
exile
of
Hamas
leadership,
and
the
complete
disarmament
of
the
Gaza
Strip.
“The
negotiating
team
in
Doha
is
currently
working
to
explore
every
possible
avenue
for
an
agreement-whether
under
the
Witkoff
framework
or
as
part
of
a
broader
end
to
the
conflict,
which
would
entail
the
return
of
all
hostages,
the
removal
of
Hamas
militants
from
Gaza,
and
the
strip’s
demilitarization,”
the
statement
read.
The
proposal
being
considered
reportedly
originates
from
Steve
Witkoff,
U.S.
President
Donald
Trump’s
special
envoy
to
the
Middle
East.
According
to
Israel’s
Channel
12,
the
Witkoff
plan
envisions
the
release
of
most
or
all
hostages,
a
halt
to
hostilities,
and
the
removal
of
Hamas
from
governance
in
Gaza.
In
a
possible
sign
of
progress,
Netanyahu
has
instructed
Israeli
negotiators
to
remain
in
Qatar.
An
Israeli
official
described
this
decision
on
Saturday
as
a
tentative
indication
that
a
breakthrough
might
be
achievable.
Gaza
Humanitarian
Crisis
Worsens
As
ceasefire
discussions
continue,
the
humanitarian
situation
in
Gaza
is
rapidly
deteriorating.
Overnight
Israeli
airstrikes
on
Sunday
reportedly
resulted
in
more
than
100
fatalities
and
forced
the
closure
of
the
region’s
primary
hospital.
Aid
organizations,
including
the
Red
Cross,
have
issued
warnings
that
Gaza’s
humanitarian
infrastructure
is
on
the
brink
of
total
collapse.
Israel’s
ongoing
blockade,
now
extending
beyond
two
months,
has
critically
limited
access
to
essential
supplies
such
as
food,
medicine,
and
fuel.
In
the
meantime,
Israel
has
begun
a
new
military
operation
called
“Gideon’s
Chariots,”
which
aims
to
increase
its
territory,
drive
people
farther
south,
and
strengthen
its
hold
on
the
provision
of
humanitarian
goods.
While
reaffirming
his
backing
for
Israel’s
stance,
President
Donald
Trump
has
also
recognised
the
seriousness
of
the
humanitarian
situation.
“Many
people
in
Gaza
are
going
hungry,”
he
said,
stressing
that
the
US
must
keep
helping
both
sides
defuse
the
situation.
