Many Israelis will remember 2024 as the year that over 100 Israeli hostages were held captive following their abduction by Hamas last year.Some anaylists say Israelis remain trapped in the horror of October 7 until the hostages are free.
On its first day, thousands of Lebanese were returning to their homes in southern Lebanon as part of a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah mediated by the United States. With the cease-fire, many Israelis hope that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will also come to an end.
The militant group Hezbollah was the target of a second wave of explosions that left at least three persons killed and numerous others wounded, and according to Lebanese media. Tuesday’s explosion of pagers that left at least 12 killed and almost 3,000 injured was followed by other electronic communications devices exploded on Wednesday. Hisbollah has vowed retaliation.
Israelis have reacted with shock and anger after finding the bodies of six slain Israeli hostages in a southern Gaza tunnel.Some blame the Israeli government for not reaching a cease-fire deal with Hamas earlier. Israel’s largest labor union announced a general strike starting Monday until the government signs a deal.
The site of this year’s Nova music festival has turned into a place of pilgrimage as Israel approaches the anniversary of the Hamas strike on October 7, which sparked the Gaza War.At the site, Hamas killed 364 young people and took 44 hostage.
The indirect negotiations for a Gaza cease-fire resumed on Thursday in Doha, Qatar, despite Hamas’ declaration that it will not attend. Many in Israel believe that after Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, this may be the last opportunity for an agreement that would free the 115 hostages that Hamas is still holding in Gaza. However, significant gaps between the two sides remain.
Israelis are on edge and waiting for expected retaliation almost two weeks after the purported assassinations of two senior militant leaders by Israel. Hezbollah and Hamas could both launch long-range missiles at much of Israel, causing enormous damage.But they also do not want an all-out war with Israel.
The appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the leader of Hamas has left Israelis even less hopeful about a cease-fire agreement, as they consider Sinwar as an even more extremist figure than his predecessor.
Last week, relatives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza marked 300 days since the start of the war with marches and meetings, raising the alarm that time is running out as Israel braces for possible attacks by Iran and Hezbollah. With almost 100,000 cases of hepatitis, health officials in Gaza warn of a growing health crisis as the death toll exceeds 40,000.
On Saturday, Israel carried out a major airstrike in southern Gaza targeting Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’ military branch. Although Deif’s death has not yet been confirmed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will kill all Hamas leaders.Hamas says at least 90 Palestinian civilians were killed