Israel – Hamas: Six Months of Ongoing War

The war in Gaza is in its seventh month. On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Islamist and nationalist movement Hamas launched an unprecedented bloody attack on Israel. Hundreds of Hamas militants invaded the Jewish state, killing 1170 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s reaction was not long in coming. The massive offensive in Gaza, which includes a ground operation, missile attacks, and daily bombardments, has killed tens of thousands of people.

On the occasion, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that “nothing can justify” the horror unleashed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. “October 7 is a day of pain for Israel and for the world. Nothing can justify the horror unleashed by Hamas. I once again condemn the use of sexual violence, torture, and kidnapping of civilians and call for the unconditional release of all hostages,” Guterres wrote on X social network (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, negotiators from the USA, Egypt, and Israel, as well as Hamas itself, are meeting in Cairo to make another attempt to find a way out of the conflict, but above all to allow the release of Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, which has confirmed the departure of its delegation to Cairo. A spokesman for the Islamist movement said Hamas had no intention of giving up its demands for a truce, including a “complete ceasefire,” the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of displaced people, and a “serious” deal to exchange Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held by the Jewish state. These statements made it clear that the new round of talks in Cairo would also end in nothing.

But something is going on behind the scenes: according to US media, CIA chief Bill Burns arrived in Cairo this weekend to meet with the head of Israel’s Mossad secret service, David Barnea, as well as officials from Egypt and Qatar. The White House confirmed that “confidential” talks are continuing.

Finally, tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran are rising after an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, attributed to the Jewish state’s air force. Iran’s retaliation against Israel for the recent attack on its consulate in Damascus will happen “at the right time and with maximum damage.” Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was quoted by the Irna news agency as saying that the attack, for which Israel has not yet claimed responsibility, will not go unanswered. “Iran’s revenge is inevitable. We ourselves will decide the time, methods, and the plan of operation against the enemy,” he warned.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in response that “preparations have been completed for any scenario that may develop with Iran.”