Israel rules out ceasefire for hostage release

An Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip amid the latest tension surge related to a potential ground operation in the region. According to CNN, it occurred during one of the first skirmishes on the ground inside the strip since the war broke out after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Analysts suggest that the two sides have initiated a form of ground warfare.

Despite international pressure to delay ground operations, Israel has reiterated its determination to sustain the ground war, stating, "There will be no ceasefire to negotiate the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas.” In response, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh contacted Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran, the country's primary supporter, and vowed to defend itself against an Israeli attack.

CNN reported, “An Israel Defense Forces soldier died, and three others were injured during preparations for the Gaza ground operation. When Hamas fired an anti-tank missile, the soldiers were preparing the Gaza Strip with tanks and military engineering vehicles for a ground war.

Despite concerns that a ground operation could result in significant casualties among soldiers and civilians on both sides, Israel has consistently emphasized its intention to launch a ground war. A senior Israeli official told CNN that Israel had ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire for hostage negotiations, adding that he was not unaware of U.S. pressure to delay ground operations. Furthermore, he stressed that humanitarian efforts to free hostages and concerns about civilian casualties should not impact the mission to dismantle Hamas.

While Israel is sending a stern message, it is also hesitant to conduct ground operations. A ground war that results in high civilian casualties could sour international sentiment and cost Israel the full support of the United States. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group in Lebanon, said, "If Israel starts a ground war, we will join it." Israel could be forced to fight "two wars" against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah on its northern border, in which case U.S. military support would be essential.

There are varying opinions on how long it will take to gain control of Gaza. On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that this ground operation could extend over three months. However, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered a different timeline during an interview with ABC on the same day, suggesting it could require at least nine months. Austin pointed to the nine-month period it took for U.S. and allied forces to reclaim Mosul from the Sunni extremist group Islamic State (IS) in 2016 and 2017. He also highlighted that Hamas, unlike IS, has constructed an underground network of tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, which would make urban combat significantly more challenging. During that period, approximately 11,000 civilians lost their lives.


pep@donga.com