What’s happening: In parallel to ongoing fighting in Lebanon, the IDF continues to operate in northern and southern Gaza.
- The operation in northern Gaza has been expanded beyond Jabalya to include the other northern towns of Bet Lahia and Beit Hanoun, where the IDF continues to thwart Hamas efforts to reconstitute their fighting infrastructure.
- According to the IDF, during a recent operation, “the troops located and dismantled several rocket launcher sites aimed at firing toward the communities near the Gaza Strip. The troops also located Hamas uniforms, military equipment, AK-47 rifles, and weapon components.”
- Earlier this week, the IDF opened the Kissufim Crossing for the transfer of Humanitarian Aid trucks and the IDF facilitated hundreds of food and water packages to be delivered to Jabaliya and Beit Hanoun
- On Wednesday Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) released a video of the hostage Alexander Troufanov, which his family consented to make public. This is the first video of a living captive for several months.
- In the video, Troufanov says that he and the other remaining hostages are running out of food and water. He also pleads for the Israeli public to continue to push for a hostage deal.
Context: The 101 remaining hostages have now been held in captivity for 404 days. Compounding the desperation, there are no negotiations for their release on the horizon.
- Hamas has continued to demand a ceasefire as a prerequisite, whist Israel is insisting on the release of hostages without a commitment to end the war.
- Last week Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced it would suspend its mediation role due to continuing deadlock.
- The US appears to back the Israeli stance of blaming Hamas. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “it’s time for Hamas to accept the proposal and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
- The hostages remain a crucial issue on the world stage, and it was also raised in the meeting between President Biden and President-elect Trump.
- Biden also met the families of the seven remaining American-Israeli hostages. Following the meeting, the families said that Biden discussed a few initiatives that his administration is pursuing to try and reach a deal.
- The IDF continues to face the challenge of distinction between Hamas and PIJ fighters on the one hand, and non-combatant Gazans on the other. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Gazans have finally left the north for the expanded humanitarian zone.
- Israeli media has highlighted many of those fleeing severely criticised Hamas saying that the group stole aid and that they were happy with Israel killed Sinwar.
- The opening of Kissufim, which is directly adjacent to the expanded humanitarian zone, means it will take around 10 minutes to drive to the zone from the crossing. The route has also been paved by the IDF to allow speedy, safer delivery and avoid the risk of looting on the way.
- According to the IDF, over the last month, 741 aid trucks have been delivered to northern Gaza, while 50,000 litres of fuel, 180 blood units, and hundreds of boxes of medical supplies and food have been delivered to support critical hospital infrastructure in northern Gaza.
- In addition, in coordination with the World Health Organisation, 244 patients and their companions have been evacuated from hospitals in northern Gaza over the past month.
- The IDF insists that the main problem in delivering the aid is the collection and distribution mechanism of the international NGOs, adding that 800 trucks are currently waiting on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom awaiting collection.
- Compounding the problem are efforts to smuggle weapons though arms convoys. On Sunday the IDF said it spotted “unusual movement” in one of the aid trucks, whereupon inspection, “troops discovered a bag containing ammunition for firearms.”
- The US had threatened a partial embargo on weapons transfers if they did not increase the flow of aid. This week the 30 day deadline expired with the US appearing satisfied that Israel had at least met some of their criteria to improved provisions for aid.
- The release by PIJ confirms that it is not only Hamas that holds hostages. It has been speculated that others could be held by other small terror groups or even crime organisations, making it even harder to negotiate and secure their release.
- A medical report which was published by the Missing Families Forum this week, indicates that the 101 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity are in life-threatening condition.
- According to expert estimates, some hostages have lost up to 50% of their body weight due to prolonged starvation. As the winter approaches, this severe physical degradation, combined with existing malnutrition, puts them at high risk for cold-related injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia.
Looking ahead: There is hope that, in what remains of the President Biden’s term in office, his team will place further pressure on Qatar and Hamas to renew talks for a hostage deal. The outgoing administration is prepared to collaborate with Trump to secure a hostage deal.