Jerusalem — Dozens of family members of hostages held by Hamas disrupted a committee meeting in Israel’s parliament on Monday, demanding a resolution for their loved ones’ release. Simultaneously, European foreign ministers joined the international chorus urging Israel to negotiate the creation of a Palestinian state after the ongoing conflict.
The situation places Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under mounting pressure as he maintains a two-pronged approach, insisting that the offensive in Gaza is the only way to secure the release of hostages while rejecting the U.S. vision for a postwar resolution, adamantly opposing the idea of a Palestinian state.
The dispute over Gaza’s future not only strains Israel’s relations with its top ally but also poses a significant hurdle to postwar governance and reconstruction efforts in the heavily damaged coastal territory. Israeli strikes and shelling intensified around the southern city of Khan Younis, leading Palestinian families to flee the area in trucks and carts loaded with possessions.
The city, a battle zone for weeks, faced increased casualties, with strikes hitting schools serving as shelters for displaced people. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Internet and phone networks experienced their 10th blackout during the war, severely impeding aid distribution and communication.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until achieving “complete victory” over Hamas and securing the release of all remaining hostages. The hostages’ families, however, are growing increasingly frustrated, with some setting up a tent camp outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, demanding a resolution.
The toll of Israel’s offensive in Gaza has reached at least 25,295 Palestinians killed and over 60,000 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Ongoing displacement has left 85% of Gaza’s population without homes, with 1 in 4 people facing starvation due to the hindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
As international pressure mounts, the United States calls for more precise military operations, increased facilitation of humanitarian aid, and support for a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza post-war. European Union foreign ministers, in Brussels, add their voices to the calls for a Palestinian state, emphasizing its necessity for achieving peace.
In the midst of these developments, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, declares that the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction without a credible path to a Palestinian state. This statement marks a notable shift as the U.S. had been attempting to broker a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel before the conflict.
The Palestinians’ longstanding quest for a state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem remains a focal point, with peace talks having broken down nearly 15 years ago. The current crisis exacerbates tensions in the region, drawing attention to the complex geopolitical challenges faced by all parties involved.