Israel Faces Calls for Cease-Fire After Series of Shootings in Gaza

European Allies Call for Immediate Truce

Israel’s government is facing pressure from some of its closest European allies to implement a cease-fire in the ongoing war in Gaza. This comes after a series of shootings, including the accidental killing of three Israeli hostages, raised concerns about the conduct of the war. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has called for an “immediate truce” to release more hostages and provide more aid to Gaza. The foreign ministers of the U.K. and Germany have also called for a “sustainable” cease-fire, expressing concern over the high number of civilian casualties.

U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Israel

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to visit Israel, where he is expected to discuss the situation and the possibility of scaling back major combat operations. The United States has expressed growing unease with the civilian casualties in Gaza, while continuing to provide military and diplomatic support to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to fight until the end, with the goal of eliminating Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The 10-week-old war in Gaza has resulted in the destruction of large parts of northern Gaza and the displacement of most of the population. Around 90% of Gaza’s population, or 1.9 million Palestinians, have fled their homes and are surviving on limited humanitarian aid. Aid workers say that the current aid is insufficient and that more needs to be done to address the dire situation. The war has also caused significant damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, with more than 60% destroyed.

Israel’s Defensive Strikes in Lebanon

Israel has been defensively striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, responding to the group’s attacks on Israel. The violence has killed civilians and soldiers, forcing more than 80,000 Israelis to leave their homes. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, has condemned Hezbollah’s actions, stating that the group is dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war.

Mistaken Killing of Hostages and Shootings

Israeli military officials have acknowledged the mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages by Israeli troops. The hostages had tried to signal that they posed no harm, but were shot in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah. Israel has emphasized that it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians and accuses Hamas of using them as human shields. However, Palestinians and rights groups have accused Israeli forces of endangering civilians and firing on those who do not pose a threat. The situation has further escalated tensions and calls for renewed negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Read More of this Story at apnews.com – 2023-12-17 23:49:00

Calls for new truce arise after killing of hostages who were waving a white flag in Israel