Israel Grapples with Escalating Toll in Ongoing Gaza Conflict
In a solemn address on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel is facing a “heavy price” in its ongoing war with Gaza, particularly as the death toll of soldiers engaged in combat with Hamas continues to rise.
The somber announcement followed the revelation that 14 Israeli soldiers lost their lives in the Palestinian territory since Friday, marking one of the bloodiest weekends in the conflict. The overall toll now exceeds 150 Israeli troops and over 20,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, undeterred by the grim statistics, pledged to persist in the conflict, stating, “This war is exacting a high price from us, but we have no choice other than to continue to fight.” During a cabinet meeting, he expressed condolences, saying, “All the government and the people of Israel send our sympathies to the families of the heroes who fell in the war for our home.”
Funerals for the fallen soldiers were held on Sunday, highlighting the human cost of the conflict. The intensification of hostilities has sparked international concern, with allies, including the United States, urging Israel to reconsider the intensity of its operations in Gaza.
Recent investigations by The New York Times and CNN revealed that Israel has been deploying 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip, contributing to the alarming civilian death toll. Experts argue that these massive bombs, more than four times the weight of those used by the US-led coalition in the Battle of Mosul against ISIS, have played a significant role in the rising casualties among Palestinian civilians.
Prime Minister Netanyahu referenced a phone call with US President Joe Biden, stating, “I told Biden we will fight until there is total victory, however long it takes. The US understands this.” However, reports emerged that President Biden had intervened to prevent Israel from carrying out a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon just days after the October 7 attacks. Netanyahu denied such intervention, asserting Israel’s sovereignty in making operational decisions.
With a mounting death toll of Israeli soldiers, public support for the war within Israel faces a severe test, adding to the growing discontent against Prime Minister Netanyahu in the midst of the conflict.
Israel Grapples with Escalating Toll in Ongoing Gaza Conflict
In a solemn address on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel is facing a “heavy price” in its ongoing war with Gaza, particularly as the death toll of soldiers engaged in combat with Hamas continues to rise.
The somber announcement followed the revelation that 14 Israeli soldiers lost their lives in the Palestinian territory since Friday, marking one of the bloodiest weekends in the conflict. The overall toll now exceeds 150 Israeli troops and over 20,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, undeterred by the grim statistics, pledged to persist in the conflict, stating, “This war is exacting a high price from us, but we have no choice other than to continue to fight.” During a cabinet meeting, he expressed condolences, saying, “All the government and the people of Israel send our sympathies to the families of the heroes who fell in the war for our home.”
Funerals for the fallen soldiers were held on Sunday, highlighting the human cost of the conflict. The intensification of hostilities has sparked international concern, with allies, including the United States, urging Israel to reconsider the intensity of its operations in Gaza.
Recent investigations by The New York Times and CNN revealed that Israel has been deploying 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip, contributing to the alarming civilian death toll. Experts argue that these massive bombs, more than four times the weight of those used by the US-led coalition in the Battle of Mosul against ISIS, have played a significant role in the rising casualties among Palestinian civilians.
Prime Minister Netanyahu referenced a phone call with US President Joe Biden, stating, “I told Biden we will fight until there is total victory, however long it takes. The US understands this.” However, reports emerged that President Biden had intervened to prevent Israel from carrying out a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon just days after the October 7 attacks. Netanyahu denied such intervention, asserting Israel’s sovereignty in making operational decisions.
With a mounting death toll of Israeli soldiers, public support for the war within Israel faces a severe test, adding to the growing discontent against Prime Minister Netanyahu in the midst of the conflict.