Israeli Forces Withdraw from Jabalia

Facts

• Israel's military (IDF) said Friday that it had ended combat operations and withdrawn its troops from the north Gazan city of Jabalia. During the three-week offensive, Israeli forces reportedly found the remains of seven hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack.¹
• In the south, Israel confirmed its forces were operating in the center of Rafah and indicated that they had already been operating in most parts of the city. Though most civilians have fled the area, an unnamed UN official reportedly said 300K people are believed to remain.²
• Hamas said Thursday that while it would not take part in further negotiations while fighting continues, it was ready for a 'complete agreement,' including the release of hostages if Israel ended the war. Hamas has repeatedly said it would only accept a deal that includes a permanent cease-fire.³
• In response, a member of Israel’s hostage negotiating team called Hamas' conditions 'delusional,' adding that Israel 'will continue to fight...and if they want a truce for the benefit of Gaza’s residents it must only be through negotiating the release of hostages.'⁴
• In Israel, the National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi generated controversy on Thursday for saying he didn't believe the government would succeed in making a comprehensive deal to return all hostages. His remarks were criticized by relatives of some of the hostages.⁵
• US Pres. Joe Biden said Friday that Israel had presented to mediators a new three-phase deal, including a six-week cease-fire and troop withdrawal from 'all populated areas of Gaza' for the release of women and children hostages and the remains of some deceased hostages. After further negotiations, he said the goal would be a 'permanent end to hostilities.'⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Associated Press, ³Al Jazeera, ⁴timesofisrael.com, ⁵Haaretz.com and ⁶Timesofisrael.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. 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, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and the Biden administration's red lines are clear. Netanyahu must keep his promises and work with US allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. The battle for Rafah is the most important battle of this war. Israeli forces are focusing on the Philadelphi corridor, which straddles the Egyptian border, as this region is crucial in preventing Hamas from rebuilding its clandestine supply lines into Gaza. Indeed, Israel must continue to push forward in Rafah, as it is the only way to defeat Hamas.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It should be clear after almost eight months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. The US, which has obscured its support for the Rafah offensive, has helped Israel destroy Gaza at every step of the way, even providing the bombs that burned dozens of women and children alive on Sunday. Washington is complicit in Israel's daily massacres.