The Israeli Cabinet has agreed to a four-day ceasefire and a deal with the Hamas to secure the release of 50 hostages, including women and children, being held in Gaza since the war erupted on October 7. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet meeting late Tuesday night that the country will not stop the war.
As apprehended, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in candid terms that in the aftermath of the current war against Hamas, Israel will oversee Gaza’s security “for an indefinite period.”
It would not quite be reoccupation but could be nearly so, 18 years after Israel left Gaza even though the prime minister is not saying that.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has drawn a parallel between the November 2008 (26/11) terrorist attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Mumbai and the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, emphasizing that all acts of terrorism are “unlawful and unjustifiable.”
President Joe Biden on Wednesday reiterated his country’s support to Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas and admired the courage, commitment, and bravery of Israelis. “Their courage, their commitment, their bravery is stunning. I’m proud to be here,” Biden said in a message to Israelis during his official visit to Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has thanked the Indian leadership, people of India for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel in its fight against Hamas. “I want to thank the leadership of India, the people of India for being with us shoulder-to-shoulder in this fight against brutal jihadist barbaric Islamist. This is not just our war, this is your war too and we will win it together with your support,” he said.
The fourth flight from Israel under ‘Operation Ajay’ carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday. Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh received the Indian passengers at the airport. He interacted with them and also gave a tricolor to every returning passenger.
A flight carrying the first batch of Indians that were stranded in Israel amid the country’s ongoing war with Hamas, landed in New Delhi on Friday morning IST as part of ‘Operation Ajay’. The Indian nationals (pictured above; photo courtesy IANS) were welcomed by Union information and technology minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. He also interacted with some of the returning students.
Justice Markandey Katju writes: How does one explain the war between Israel and Hamas? Many people, particularly in Western countries, have thrown all the blame on Hamas, calling them savages and demonising them, and calling for their complete destruction. This is an oversimplification. To understand the events properly we must first acknowledge the historical context.
India on Wednesday launched ‘Operation Ajay’ to bring back its citizens stuck in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. “Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad,” tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Hindus from across US, UK, Canada and Australia have slammed the brutal wave of terror and violence unleashed by the Hamas militant group in Israel and urged their governments to take firm action against the war criminals.
