Gaza death toll jumps to 192 as Netanyahu tries to hold on to Power in Israel

Agency Reports (News 1st); Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that an end to seven days of hostilities with Gaza fighters was not imminent, despite diplomatic moves to restore calm. Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip entered its seventh consecutive day with air raids early on Sunday killing at least 42 Palestinians, wounding dozens more, and flattening at least two residential buildings. At least 192 people, including 58 children and 34 women, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the past week. More than 1,200 others have been wounded. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have killed at least 13 Palestinians. Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children. This Eid Ul Fitr was probably the bloodiest festival for Palestine and as for the Israelis, especially in the Southern part the security concerns and fear of being hit by barrage of rockets from Gaza are real and rampant. This time round a peculiar uncertain political situation in both Palestine and Israel prevails. Even after four elections in two years and umpteen attempts by PM Netanyahu he could not stitch an alliance. He remains a caretaker yet an ambitious PM who has an opportunity to assure his people that only a strong leader like him can silence the guns from the other side and protect them. So, he can have another shot or a better showing in the 5th elections. The week old violence and conflict began with the eviction of some Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah pursuant to a court ruling. Evictions and settlements by Israelis are a common feature. Violence and protests broke out expanding to the Holy City and West Bank injuring hundreds of Palestinians praying at Al Aqsa -the third holiest mosque as well as several Israeli policemen who tried to take on thousands of worshippers. Hamas military leadership warned the Israelis to vacate the Mosque by 06 PM last Monday otherwise they would launch attacks on Israel and in fact sent a volley of 200 rockets. PM Netanyahu, as a strong state with a formidable firepower in the region, responded with more than 130 missile attacks reportedly killing and injuring several Hamas Commanders among scores of others. While thousands of rockets and missiles have been fired from both sides the fear of a full-fledged war once again cannot be discounted especially as the international community is still indulging in condemnation, war of words and lip sympathies. US President Biden spoke to PM Netanyahu and while asking them to calm down has supported Israel’s right to defend itself. But excessive use of force will have its own long-term repercussions that will dampen any chances of peace and stability in the region. As Gaza is turning into a land of death, the Arab world has condemned the violence in Jerusalem. Several countries including Jordan are witnessing large scale angry protests against Israel even threatening to cross over the Allenby Bridge. Qatar and Egypt and Russia have been trying to mediate with little or no results. Hamas’ proposal for a ceasefire reportedly carried by Russians was turned down by Tel Aviv. Turkey wanted to give a determined and clear message to Tel Aviv. The US has dispatched a senior official to the region to try and calm things down and achieve a ceasefire.