Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: One killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Houla
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli force of five vehicles is advancing towards Saraya Rasem al-Halabi in the central Quneitra countryside, southern Syria
Baghaei to Al Mayadeen: The core of these factions is the Israeli occupation entity, which seeks to keep the region in a state of continuous war
Al-Qassam Brigades: Resistance fighters inflicted casualties on Israeli forces and closely monitored helicopter evacuation operations
Al-Qassam Brigades: Resistance fighters targeted three Israeli vehicles using two Shawaz explosive devices and a tandem RPG, before confronting another Israeli force
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Five martyrs reported in the Israeli bombing of al-Hasayna School in al-Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: It is clear to any observer that US lawmakers are increasingly influenced by factions opposed to diplomacy
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: We believe that a strong region consists of strong, reconciled, and united countries; based on this, we extend our hand to all our neighbors
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: Iran considers its neighbors highly important, with regional security remaining a strategic priority
Baqaei to Al Mayadeen: US' insistence on completely halting Iran’s uranium enrichment raises questions about their true intentions

The threat of an operation in Rafah is a bargaining chip to get hostages released

  • F.M. Shakil F.M. Shakil
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 24 Feb 2024 12:54
  • 8 Shares
7 Min Read

While "Israel" is attempting to pressure the Palestinian Resistance by threatening an impending invasion of Rafah in Ramadan if the captives are not released, the US is still providing it with diplomatic cover. But how long can this go on? Can the Israeli economy endure this?

  • x
  • Israel
    While the US kept supporting "Tel Aviv" with weapons and diplomatic help, it used the "hostage deal" as leverage, seeking to keep the world's eye shut over "Israel's" planned atrocities in Rafah. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

"Israel's" threat of an offensive on Rafah is a bargaining chip to get its prisoners released, while the US served as a facilitator by killing once again a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza.

"Israel" is prepared to launch a ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah by the time the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next month if the "remaining hostages are not released", Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, told American Jewish leaders in Al-Quds over the weekend. He said that if, by Ramadan, the captives were not home, the ground assault on Rafah would begin.

"In response to those who assert that the cost is excessive, I say unequivocally that it is not: free the hostages, and the inhabitants of Gaza will be able to observe the sacred month of Ramadan ‘fearlessly in a peaceful manner’," He proceeded. 

The Israeli official's boastful threat of an impending Holocaust in Rafah in case the captives' issue was not solved came on the heels of a similar assertion made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week. He pledged to "complete the "job" in Gaza, as the ceasefire negotiations were futile until Hamas ceased making "irrational demands." He claimed that the hostage release "could be accomplished via robust military force and difficult negotiations".

The US role in shielding 'Israel'

Just 48 hours later, following Benny Gantz's cautionary message, the United States vetoed a preliminary Security Council (SC) resolution calling for an urgent cessation of hostilities in Gaza on Tuesday, February 21, saying that Washington seeks a captive exchange agreement before any truce in Gaza.

While Washington kept on supporting "Tel Aviv" with weapons and diplomatic assistance, it used the "hostage deal" as leverage, seeking the world to keep its eye shut over "Israel's" planned atrocities in Rafah.

For the third time since the fighting began on October 7, the US veto has prevented calls for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. The US has instead advocated for a temporary ceasefire that is conditioned on the release of hostages. While 13 council members out of a total of 15 supported the wording produced by Algeria, paradoxically, Britain abstained from voting.

"To vote in favor of this draft resolution is to affirm and uphold the right to life of the Palestinian people. In contrast, voting against it would be a support of the heinous acts of brutality and collective punishment meted out to them", Algeria's ambassador to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, informed the council before the voting.

Related News

Why the Israelis cannot win in Gaza or Yemen

Trump 2.0: One hundred days of institutionalizing injustice

The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a bid to justify the US veto, said that the draft resolution would undermine negotiations between the US, Egypt, "Israel", and Qatar to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict and release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

Thomas-Greenfield argued before the council ahead of the voting that the SC members should not bark up the wrong tree by demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without getting Hamas to release the captives, adding that it will not be a piece of cake for achieving a durable peace, and would instead open up a can of worms between Hamas and "Israel". 

The Algerian-drafted resolution that got the cold shoulder from the US did not annex the release of captives to the ceasefire. It called for a ceasefire at the drop of a hat and the release of hostages without any strings attached.

Last December, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin openly assured "Tel Aviv" that Washington would continue to support "Israel" in its war with Hamas. Speaking alongside Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in "Tel Aviv" on Monday, Austin said US support for "Israel" was "unshakeable", giving scant regard to the death toll from the Israeli assault on Gaza.

Global reaction to 'Israel's' arrogance

The world community condemned "Israel's" intentions to launch a ground operation in Rafah, as almost 1.5 million Palestinians who had been forced to leave their homes sought safety in the area and braced themselves for the worst during Ramadan. There is bitterness even in "Israel" over how the Cabinet handled the captives situation. On Saturday night, February 17, thousands of settlers gathered in "Tel Aviv" to call for fresh elections in light of Netanyahu's waning support.

The European Union (EU) has for the first time come out with severe criticism of "Tel Aviv’s" planning of a bloodbath in Rafah. Except for Hungary, all 27 EU member nations issued a warning to "Israel" on Monday, February 19, cautioning against initiating an offensive in Rafah, which they claimed would worsen the situation of 1.5 million refugees swarming the city on Gaza's southern border.

Before the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Ireland's Michael Martin stated that it would be disastrous and "unconscionable" to attack Rafah. He argued that "an immediate humanitarian pause would lead to a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Foreign ministers from 26 member states of the European Union published the declaration, which stated that the members requested that the Israeli government refrain from taking military action in Rafah that would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation and impede the urgent delivery of basic services and humanitarian assistance. Hungary, a close supporter of the Israeli government, was the only nation to opt out of the meeting.

The meeting called for an unconditional release of all hostages and the resumption of the provision for humanitarian assistance, which was what all but one of them demanded in a joint statement following the negotiations.

'Israel's' economy is in shambles

According to official statistics, "Israel's" economy contracted significantly more than what was anticipated following the battle in Gaza.

The declining economic conditions in "Israel", as demonstrated by the annualized GDP decline of more than 19% during the fourth quarter of 2023, corresponded with the outbreak of hostilities on October 7. GDP was "directly affected" when the fighting started on October 7.

The Central Bureau of Statistics in "Israel" presented numbers on Monday, February 19, that surprised experts greatly. In a Bloomberg survey of analysts, the average projection was for an annualized fall of 10.5%. By year's end, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the war had severely reduced investment, tourism, and spending. It stated that there had been a decline of 67.8% in investments in fixed assets, particularly in residential construction, and a decline of 26.3% in private spending and 18.3% in exports. Due to a decrease in Palestinian laborers and military call-ups, the construction industry experienced a manpower shortage.

In the meantime, government spending increased by 88.1%, mostly for war-related costs and compensation for people and companies. According to leading economists, "Israel's" GDP shrank much worse than had been expected highlighting the extent of the hit from the war in Gaza. The growth forecast for the nation in 2024, according to them, "now looks likely to post one of its weakest rates on record".

The opinions mentioned in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Al mayadeen, but rather express the opinion of its writer exclusively.
  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Rafah
  • Gaza
  • Israeli captives
F.M. Shakil

F.M. Shakil

Freelance Journalist

Most Read

All
Why the Israelis cannot win in Gaza or Yemen

Why the Israelis cannot win in Gaza or Yemen

  • Opinion
  • 7 May 2025
The new wave of ‘fact checkers’ and AI machines are mostly extensions of existing media monopolies, which aim to reinforce key messages of the Western hegemonic cartel. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

How Western fact checkers promote fake news

  • Opinion
  • 8 May 2025
Israeli manpower shortages offer a firm reckoning of its Gaza genocide

Israeli manpower shortages offer a firm reckoning of Gaza genocide

  • Analysis
  • 9 May 2025
What should we make of these methodological inconsistencies with international casualty recording standards? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Who is a civilian? - The shifting standards of reporting in the Syrian context

  • Opinion
  • 9 May 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

More from this writer

All
Although the background information does not indicate direct US involvement, considering the broader geopolitical context, it is plausible that the US would have an indirect impact. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Did 'Israel', US fight a proxy war with China in South Asia during the India-Pakistan escalation?

US mingling with the Taliban aims at chopping the Chinese mineral supply chain

US mingling with the Taliban aims at chopping the Chinese mineral supply chain

The US economy and global markets find themselves in a real pickle with Trump's oscillation

The US economy and global markets find themselves in a real pickle with Trump's oscillation

Did the US pause the tariff escalation, sensing the shifting tides of de-dollarization?

Did the US pause the tariff escalation, sensing the shifting tides of de-dollarization?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS