Tensions rise as Netanyahu asserts military options while protests in London lead to over 70 arrests
London: So, Netanyahu’s been making some bold statements lately. He said Israel is keeping its options open to go back to war, just hours after a ceasefire with Hamas was set to kick in. He made this announcement on live TV, mentioning that he’s still waiting for the names of hostages that are supposed to be released.
He warned that this truce is only temporary and won’t go ahead until he gets that list. Meanwhile, things got heated in Trafalgar Square, where about 77 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested after they broke through police lines during a rally calling for an end to the violence in Gaza.
Netanyahu also claimed he has the backing of President-elect Trump, who’s set to take office soon. He said if they have to fight again, they’ll do it in stronger ways. He pointed out that both Trump and Biden support Israel’s right to defend itself if talks don’t go anywhere.
He talked about the successes of the military campaign over the past 15 months, including taking out Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He believes Hamas is now isolated in the region.
Families of hostages in Gaza are anxiously waiting for news, while Palestinians are preparing to receive those who will be freed. The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and the US, is supposed to see 33 hostages released over six weeks, with a second phase of negotiations to follow.
In return, a significant number of Palestinian prisoners will be released. But even with the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continued, and Gaza’s Health Ministry reported more casualties.
In London, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign had to change their plans for a march into a static rally after police imposed restrictions. Thousands showed up, including some notable political figures, but things got tense when protesters clashed with police.
Some activists were arrested for various reasons, including holding signs that supported banned groups. The police had a large presence, with over 1,100 officers deployed to manage the situation.
Netanyahu’s government is facing a lot of pressure, especially after the violence that erupted when Hamas attacked Israel back in October. If this ceasefire works, it could bring some much-needed relief to the people affected by the ongoing conflict.
