Resumption of fighting in northern Gaza, Blinken's return to Hamas, an 'issue' in the US presidential election
As fighting resumed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Israel's claim of 'suppression other than Rafah' in the south was neutralized, and US Secretary of State Blinken mentioned the 'return of Hamas', making it an issue in the US presidential election.
Fierce battles have been taking place in northern Gaza since the end of last week while the Israeli military is in conflict with the United States over the general offensive in Rafah, which it refers to as Hamas' last stronghold in the Gaza Strip.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on NBC and CBS in the United States on this day and said, “Israel’s failure to establish a framework for governing Gaza means that Israel’s victory may not be ‘sustainable,’” adding, “Chaos, anarchy, And ultimately, it means Hamas will come back.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in 'Commentary on the Gaza Strip' on the 12th, "The situation in Gaza is worsening as Israeli forces intensify airstrikes against Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya in parts of northern and central Gaza. “I am deeply saddened by this rapid deterioration,” he said. “At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are leaving Rafah after the Israel Defense Forces ordered further evacuations from the southern city, leading to a mass exodus of residents who have already suffered severe trauma. It continues. “Reports of indiscriminate rocket launches from the Gaza Strip are also concerning,” he said, confirming the resumption of fighting in northern Gaza.
The New York Times said, “Close ground fighting between Hamas fighters and Israeli troops raged in parts of northern Gaza over the weekend, despite global attention being focused on the southern city of Rafah, where Israel expanded its military operations last week, with both sides reporting 12 “This led to a warning that armed forces may remain a force for a long time to come,” the report said.
NYT said, “According to U.S. officials, the intelligence agencies of both the U.S. and Israel believe that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar likely did not leave the tunnel network in Khan Younis, a major city in the north,” and “U.S. officials have previously said that Yahya Sinwar has not left the tunnel network in Khan Younis, a major northern city.” “Senior Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, including Sinwar, have said they are not hiding in Rafah, and Israeli intelligence agrees,” the report said.
Hamas said on the 12th that its fighters were engaged in "violent clashes" with Israeli soldiers near Jabaliya, and that fighters fired large-diameter mortar shells at Israeli troops in Zaytoon.
The Israeli military said its soldiers had “eliminated a large number of people” with fighter jets near Gaza City in Zaitoun, and Secretary Blinken warned of a “return to Hamas.”
The Israeli military said on the 11th that the military entered Jabaliya, where civilians were ordered to evacuate, after fighter jets struck more than 20 targets overnight, and that "this operation was based on intelligence about Hamas's attempt to regroup," adding, "Hamas returns." ' was confirmed.
On the 12th, Palestine TV, a broadcaster affiliated with the Palestinian Authority headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, broadcast footage of civilians, including women and children, escaping from the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Regarding the broadcast, the NYT reported, “Some people walked, others were carried on bicycles, in cars, or in carts pulled by donkeys.”
Secretary of State Blinken appeared directly on two major broadcasters on the 12th and said, “Israel’s tactics meant ‘a terrible loss of life of innocent civilians,’ but they did not neutralize the Hamas leader and the battle and could lead to an ongoing rebellion,” and said Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip were limited. It launched the Biden administration's strongest public criticism of the conduct of the war.
Secretary Blinken said on air that the military operation may have "some initial success" as Israel advances deep into southern Rafah, but that it will not solve "the problem we both want to solve, which is to ensure that Hamas cannot rule the Gaza Strip again." He said there was a possibility of a failed Rafah attack, saying there was a risk of "terrible damage" to residents without being able to do so.
Regarding Israel's conduct of the war, Secretary Blinken said, "Israel is potentially on track to inherit an insurgency with many armed Hamas remaining, or if the insurgency leaves, it will be filled with chaos and anarchy, possibly repopulated by Hamas." “We have been talking to them (Israel) about a much better way to get lasting results and lasting security,” he said of the negotiation process with the Netanyahu government.
Minister Blinken previously released the 'Weapons Use Report' on the 10th, and said on the day of the report, "Considering the totality of damage inflicted on children, women, and men in connection with the use of weapons, Israel acted in a manner inconsistent with international humanitarian law." “It is reasonable to assess the terrible loss of life of innocent civilians,” he said.
The U.S. State Department said on the 12th that Secretary Blinken spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and “reiterated the United States’ long-standing opposition to the current growing Israeli offensive in Rafah, considering the civilian casualties there.”
Secretary Blinken appeared on CBS' 'Face the Nation' and NBC's 'Meet the Press' on the 12th, and the Israeli 'Rafah attack', which became an issue in the US presidential election, was highlighted as a key part of the election strategy.
Biden said in a CNN interview on the 8th of last week, “We will not provide Israel with weapons that can be used in a full-scale attack in Rafah.”
Republican presidential candidate Trump left the New York criminal court's sexual assault trial court on this day and said, "It's shameful" when reporters asked about Biden's Israel policy, adding, "If you are a Jew who voted for Biden, you should be ashamed of yourself."
Former President Trump then responded in a video posted on his social media, saying, "Biden hated Jews," and "If there are Jews who want to vote for Joe Biden, they should have their heads checked."
The AP said, “Tensions are rising between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how the war is progressing, and domestic tensions are also rising over American support for Israel,” adding, “Protests are taking place on American college campuses.” “With many Republican lawmakers saying that Biden should give Israel whatever it needs, this issue could play a significant role in the outcome of the November presidential election,” he said on the 12th.