The Israeli war cabinet has called on the United States to support the continuation of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, despite the proposed ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Tel Aviv. Israeli media reported concerns that the U.S. might not back the prolonged military engagement under the terms of the emerging agreement, prompting demands for Washington to guarantee support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza even after a prisoner exchange deal is implemented.
A source within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office indicated that this request from the military cabinet could potentially obstruct the finalization of the agreement. On May 31, 2024, ahead of the U.S. presidential elections in November, President Joe Biden revealed Israel's new proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Biden urged both sides to seize this opportunity to finalize the agreement, acknowledging the internal and external pressures he faces regarding U.S. support for Israel.
Biden stated, "Israel's new proposal is a roadmap for a lasting ceasefire and the liberation of all hostages. I know that some people in Israel will oppose this plan. This is really the defining moment for Hamas to implement this agreement."
Meanwhile, Yossi Yehoshua, a military analyst for the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, highlighted that Israel is engaged in multiple conflicts, including those with Hezbollah in Lebanon and narrower fronts in Gaza, Syria, the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen. He emphasized that the most significant challenge the Israeli military faces is the internal conflict among its generals.
Yehoshua reported a heated exchange between General Herzi Ha-Levi and General Sa'ar Tzur, commander of the 5th Division of the Israeli Army, at military headquarters in Tel Aviv. This internal discord has led to increasing calls from generals for Army Chief of Staff Ha-Levi to resign immediately.
As the situation remains fluid, the international community watches closely, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations
