WP allowed the resumption of fighting in Gaza after the first phase of the truce
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may resume the military operation in the Gaza Strip after the first phase of the truce. The Washington Post (WP) reported on January 16.
"Netanyahu promised his far-right allies that the war could resume after the initial phase, during which [Palestinian movement] Hamas must gradually release 33 hostages in exchange for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners," the publication said.
According to the newspaper, the second phase of the ceasefire involves the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. In case the ceasefire is violated before this phase, almost half of the hostages, among them many Israeli soldiers, will remain in captivity.
Netanyahu may take such a step to prevent a split in the government coalition, WP specified.
The day before, January 17, it became known about 87 dead as a result of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip after reaching a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Before that, on January 16, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister accused Hamas of retreating from part of the agreements and attempts at blackmail. In turn, representatives of the movement said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had struck the place where one of the hostages was.
In response, the leader of the Ansar Allah movement, Abdel Malik al-Husi, said that the Houthis will continue to attack Israel until a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the entry into force of the truce. And if Israel fails to comply with the agreement, they will resume attacks again. According to him, at the moment the Palestinian issue is not resolved.
On January 15, it became known about reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza. It is expected to start operating on January 19. In the first phase lasting 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli Defense Ministry and the IDF have begun preparations to implement the agreement.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.