Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US requests for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war, stating that Israeli forces will continue until Hamas hostages are released. Israeli attacks have killed 8,306 Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed US requests for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war. Netanyahu told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Friday that the Israeli forces are going full steam ahead, until Hamas hostages are released.
Blinken will meet with Jordanian leaders on Saturday during his third visit to Israel since the fighting began last month.
The US warned Hezbollah to stay out of the struggle, but Hassan Nasrallah said in a public speech that his party would not be deterred. He did not say Hezbollah will fight.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City has been linked to the Hamas attack at the start of the war last month. Islam’s third holiest site is Al-Aqsa, which is religiously and geopolitically vital to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The most sensitive point in the conflict is the mosque, which overlooks the Western Wall and is believed to have been erected by King Solomon.
Israeli police deployed tear gas and stun grenades against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa in March and April, sparking international outcry. Violence sparked the second Palestinian uprising, the al-Aqsa Intifada. Clashes near the site prompted a 10-day 2021 Gaza war.
Muslim and Arab neighbors were outraged when Palestinians praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque were attacked without warning in April 2023. On September 17, 2023, Israeli settlers prayed in Al-Aqsa, but security agents attacked Palestinians trying to enter.
Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023 in response to Israel’s mosque site aggression. Hamas militants from Gaza launched a huge missile attack on Israel, allegedly abducting several soldiers and civilians.
As tensions grew, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video saying, “We are in a war, and we will win,” and the army launched ‘Operation Iron Swords’ against Hamas fighters.
From October 7, Israeli attacks have killed 8,306 Palestinians in Gaza, while 1,400 died in Israel due to Hamas attack. The Israeli occupation of Al-Aqsa Mosque harms Muslims’ religious freedom. Returning Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslims would encourage Middle East peace, regional conflict resolution, compassionate treatment of Muslims, and justice and equality. Multiple UN Security Council resolutions have called for Israel to return the mosque to Muslims to end the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel has defied UN Security Council resolutions and US calls to suspend the war.
Conclusion
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored US requests for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war, stating that Israeli forces will continue until Hamas hostages are released. Hezbollah has been warned by the US to stay out of the conflict, but Hassan Nasrallah remains unafraid. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City is linked to the Hamas attack on October 7, which led to a 10-day Gaza war in 2021. Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood last month in response to Israel’s mosque site aggression. As tensions escalated, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video stating “We are in a war, and we will win,” and the army launched ‘Operation Iron Swords’ against Hamas fighters.
Netanyahu must stop the war and atrocities on the Palestinians. But, he has now even rejected US calls to pause the war.
At the moment, international cooperation is very much required to end the ongoing war and defend Palestinian rights, including the right to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This would also bring peace in the Middle East region.
