Counter risk: Israel did not mention the time frame of the operation in Gaza

The ground military operation in Gaza, which Israel resumed on March 19, has no time frame, Izvestia found out. Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, confirmed that negotiations with Hamas will now be conducted without a pause for a truce, while the goal of the Jewish state remains the destruction of the Palestinian movement and the release of hostages. The Yemeni Houthis have already reacted to what is happening in Gaza, declaring their readiness to expand the range of targets for attacks in Israel if the latter does not cease hostilities. In response, the United States launched new strikes against targets in Yemen.

Israel continues its operation in the Gaza Strip

On March 19, the day after the resumption of strikes on the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the launch of a targeted and targeted ground operation in the central and southern parts of the Palestinian enclave. The military clarifies that they have managed to expand control over the Netzarim corridor separating the northern and southern territories of the Gaza Strip.

On February 9, the state broadcaster Kan reported that Israeli troops had completely withdrawn from the corridor to allow Palestinians to move freely inside the enclave. This was one of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas. At that time, the IDF did not officially comment on its withdrawal from the strategic zone.

Now, subsequent negotiations with Hamas will take place "under fire" and from a position of strength, Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, told Izvestia.

"Israel does not intend to stop the military operation until the goals are achieved: the destruction of the Hamas government and the return of our abductees," he added.

There are still 59 Israeli hostages in captivity by Hamas, among them Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donbass. The Palestinian movement had warned the day before that Israel's actions were effectively condemning them to death.

The Jewish state will make every effort to return these hostages, IDF spokeswoman Anna Ukolova assured Izvestia.

— Time frame (of the military operation. — Ed.) it's difficult to discuss now. There are many factors that can influence this," she stressed.

In turn, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would increase the pace of hostilities. Israel responds to calls to stop the bloodshed that it "had no choice" because Hamas twice rejected the plan proposed by the United States to continue the truce.

On the afternoon of March 19, the Gaza Ministry of Health estimated the death toll since the resumption of strikes at 436 people, 183 of whom were children. At the same time, the authorities of the Palestinian enclave reported the death of a UN employee as a result of an Israeli strike in the center of Gaza. Hamas, in turn, claims that one Israeli hostage was killed and two wounded the day before.

During the first phase of the truce, which began on January 19 and lasted six weeks, 33 hostages returned to Israel, including the bodies of eight dead prisoners. In response, 1.8 thousand Palestinian prisoners were released. Moscow has already called on the parties to sit down at the negotiating table again, noting that it is impossible to resolve the issue of hostage release by force.

The topic of the Middle East and the situation in the Red Sea region was also raised during a telephone conversation between the leaders of Russia and the United States on March 18. According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to make "joint efforts to stabilize the situation in crisis points, establish cooperation on issues of nuclear non-proliferation and global security." At the same time, the White House said: "Both leaders expressed the common opinion that Iran should never be given the opportunity to destroy Israel."

What are the Hamas allies willing to do?

Only the Yemeni Houthis reacted forcefully to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. On March 18, their military-political movement, Ansar Allah, announced the first shelling of the territory of the Jewish state since January of this year. According to representatives of the movement, the target was the Nevatim military air base in the south of the country. In an interview with Reuters, Houthi Foreign Minister Jamal Amer said that the movement was not going to reduce its operations in the Red Sea until the blockade in the Gaza Strip was lifted. Moreover, Yahya Saria, the military representative of the movement, threatened to expand the range of targets in Israel. In response to these threats, the United States launched more than 10 airstrikes in Yemen on the night of March 19.

As for Tehran, it only strongly condemned Israel's resumption of the "genocide campaign" in the Gaza Strip, blaming Washington for this. The Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah also spoke out, declaring its "full and unwavering" support for the Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza.

It is important to note that, as Iran's most important ally in the Middle East region, Hezbollah has been significantly weakened by Israeli attacks, which intensified last fall. The traffic infrastructure in Lebanon and Syria has been severely affected. In addition, with the fall of the government of Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah lost its supply route for military supplies from Iran through Syria. However, the movement's leader, Naim Qassem, assured Reuters in December that if supplies could not be resumed under the new Syrian authorities, the group would look for other ways and be able to adapt.

Israel fulfills the agreements concluded with Hezbollah, but at the same time acts to eliminate any threat from its side, said Anna Ukolova.

— Hezbollah fighters periodically try to violate the terms of the ceasefire. We stop all attempts. We are ready to do whatever is necessary to protect our citizens," she stressed.

However, since the truce between Israel and Hezbollah came into force on November 27, the Lebanese authorities have regularly accused Israel of violating the deal. At the end of February, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also confirmed to Izvestia that it was daily detecting violations of its airspace by the Israeli army. In addition, the IDF maintains its units in the neighboring country.

The capabilities of the "axis of resistance" are currently limited, and in fact the most active actions now come only from the Yemeni Houthis, political scientist and orientalist Roland Bijamov confirmed to Izvestia.

— Due to objective conditions, the possibilities of countering Iran and Hezbollah are greatly reduced. But one should not discount the determination of the residents of the Gaza Strip itself. Hamas is a deep phenomenon. His values are incomprehensible to the West. Their sacrifice has been elevated to a cult, and in the name of the idea they are ready to become martyrs. The Houthis' position is equally unshakeable," he argues.

According to the expert, a major regional war in the Middle East is hardly possible now, since the maximum task for Benjamin Netanyahu is not to defeat Iran, but to consolidate political forces around himself and not lose power.

Indeed, the leader of the far-right Jewish Force party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who left the post of Israel's national security minister two months ago in protest at the deal with Hamas, decided to return to his office after the IDF resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Government approved Ben-Gvir's appointment unanimously. His return strengthens the ruling coalition, which remained a small parliamentary majority after his departure.

— Netanyahu understands perfectly well that attacks on Iran will not lead to regime change. In addition, Israel has quite good intelligence capabilities, and through sabotage it does not give Iran the opportunity to come close to creating nuclear weapons directly. If Israel decides to strike, it will not be directed at Iran, but, most likely, at the Houthis. But again, this will only embitter the Houthis. And if we launch a full—scale operation against them, like the one we saw in Afghanistan, then there are no guarantees that it will be successful," the political scientist added.

Do not forget that Israel is also suspicious of the new Syrian authorities. In mid-March, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed that the IDF was ready to remain in southern Syria for an "unlimited amount of time" in order to have a demilitarized and weapon- and threat-free zone there. In any case, it will be difficult for Netanyahu to wage a war on two fronts, given that the operation in Gaza itself does not enjoy popular support in Israel.