Israeli Forces Launch Ground Operation Into Gaza City Neighborhood

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Facts

  • Israeli forces entered Gaza City's Shujaiya neighborhood on Thursday, telling Palestinians that they must move south. Residents and Hamas-affiliated media reported that Israeli tanks advanced before the evacuation announcement, and Israel had blocked the road south, forcing people to flee west.1
  • Israeli forces entered Shujaiya earlier in the war, saying that they were returning this time to prevent Hamas from restoring its control over the neighborhood. Heavy bombardment of the area was reported as residents fled, with health authorities saying that at least 15 people were killed.2
  • Regarding Gaza's post-war governance, the Times of Israel reported that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were prepared to send troops into Gaza as part of a post-war security force under the conditions that Israel withdraws from the strip and there is a pathway toward a Palestinian state.3
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that both possibilities are out of the question. US Sec. of State Antony Blinken said the force would be US-trained and temporary, allowing for a fully Palestinian body to take its place.3
  • Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has been in the US this week to meet with US officials. A point of contention has been a shipment of heavy bombs held up in May. US officials reportedly told Gallant that the US would maintain the pause while the issue is under review.4
  • Axios reported that US officials said that delays in weapons shipments were due to Israel's changing needs. While Gallant said that 'significant progress' was made on the issue, US and Israeli officials pointed to Netanyahu's recent accusations that the US was not providing the needed weapons as one of the reasons for the ongoing evaluation.5

Sources: 1Reuters, 2New York Times, 3Timesofisrael, 4Guardian and 5Axios.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Hill. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, Netanyahu is being irresponsible by airing his grievances so publicly, and he risks worsening Israel's position in this conflict.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel will always be incredibly grateful for the staunch support it receives from the US. However, it must chart its own path, and the US should refrain from pressuring Israel to acquiesce to Hamas' demands. Indeed, Israel cannot be beholden to an ally that is not interested in allowing Israel to do whatever it takes to defend its borders and its citizens.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. After almost nine months of non-stop brutality, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The US has simply failed to reel Netanyahu in, and over 35K Palestinians are dead because of it. Israeli crimes keep stacking up, yet the international community and the US refuse to do anything meaningful to stop the carnage.