Israel faced fierce criticism Tuesday from the Arab world and public admonitions from European leaders about its war against the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas, as Palestinian casualties mount in the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem acknowledges that “strategic considerations” have forced a delay of its long-awaited ground invasion.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said more than 700 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes over the past day, bringing the death toll to just under 5,800.
Those exact numbers have not been confirmed by outside groups, though the United Nations and other organizations say thousands of people have died in Gaza since Oct. 7, when Israel launched retaliatory strikes after Hamas’ brutal assault.
That Hamas attack killed more than 1,400 Israeli civilians, including children, and saw over 200 people taken hostage. Four of those hostages have been released while the rest remain in Hamas’ custody.
As the Israeli response intensifies, anger has grown throughout parts of the Arab world, with critics saying the stateless Palestinians are suffering unjustifiable wrongs at the hands of the Israeli military.
“We are saying enough is enough,” the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said during a speech Tuesday. “It is untenable for Israel to be given an unconditional green light and free license to kill, nor it is tenable to continue ignoring the reality of occupation, siege and settlement.”
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Qatar has played a leading role in behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement with Hamas aimed at freeing the hostages. The effort to secure the release of more prisoners seems to be the leading factor delaying Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza.
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, said that “tactical and even strategic considerations” are delaying a Gaza assault, which Israel has cast as the only way to ensure Hamas is permanently eliminated as a military threat.
“We’ve prepared for this. The IDF and the Southern Command have prepared quality offensive plans to achieve the goals of the war,” Gen. Halevi said, according to The Times of Israel. “The IDF is ready for the [ground] maneuver, and we will make a decision with the political echelon regarding the shape and timing of the next stage.”
He added, “The IDF is fighting Hamas; it is not fighting Gaza’s populace. The IDF wants the residents of Gaza to come through this war as unharmed as possible. Every resident of Gaza should take the responsible decision [to evacuate] for the sake of their lives.”
Israel has urged residents in the northern half of the densely packed Gaza Strip to evacuate south. Israel also has allowed multiple convoys of trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the strip, though human-rights groups say not nearly enough food, water and medicine are being delivered to meet the needs of the population.
Amid growing tension in Jerusalem about the timetable of the ground operation, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Israel Tuesday and urged the international community to join behind the Jewish state in defeating Hamas. He said the world must form a coalition to battle Hamas similar to the one brought together to defeat the Islamic State terror group, which last decade built a caliphate across swaths of Iraq and Syria.
But Mr. Macron cautioned Israel against going too far when its tanks and ground troops move into Gaza.
“The fight must be without mercy, but not without rules,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will make “every effort” to avoid civilian casualties, but he stressed that his country is prepared for a “long war” with a very simple objective.
“Hamas must be destroyed,” he said.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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