Tens of thousands protest in Israel against the Netanyahu government | War Israel and Hamas

Hamas does not yet know whether a delegation will be sent to Egypt or Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire with Israel. This is reported by the news agency AFP based on an official of the Palestinian movement.

“There has not yet been any indication or decision within Hamas about sending a Hamas delegation to a new round of negotiations in Cairo or Doha,” the official said.

Hamas is said to be pessimistic about a good outcome in negotiations with Israel. “I doubt that any progress will be made in these negotiations because the positions are too far apart. Netanyahu is not serious and not interested,” the official said.

An Israeli delegation arrived in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday for new negotiations, Israeli media report.

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Although Israel is visiting Egypt for new negotiations, it does not appear that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting aside his plans for a ground offensive in Rafah.

Nothing prevents Israel from launching a ground offensive in Rafah to eliminate Hamas, Netanyahu said on Sunday. According to him, that plan is necessary for a victory over Hamas.

Israel has been preparing for a ground offensive in Rafah for weeks. The country sees Rafah as Hamas’s last major stronghold. The United States, among others, is against this plan and advocates a different approach. Many Palestinians have fled to that city since the war.

On Monday, the UN Security Council also called for an immediate ceasefire. But Netanyahu has already said that he will not succumb to international pressure and, if necessary, invade Rafah without American support.

At the same time, there are large protests in Jerusalem against the government. Tens of thousands of Israelis march through the streets and gather at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

There are several reasons why protesters take to the streets. They are demanding new elections, something Netanyahu recently rejected again. They are also fighting for an agreement with Hamas, which should lead to the release of the more than 130 hostages that Hamas is probably still holding in Gaza. Netanyahu is failing in the eyes of the protesters by bringing the hostages home.

People are also taking to the streets because they disagree with the exemption that ultra-Orthodox Jews have from military service. The demonstrators want the burdens to be shared more fairly.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been exempt from military service since the founding of the State of Israel. Netanyahu had to come up with a new law this month to guarantee that exemption after March, but he has been given a month’s extension by the Supreme Court.

There were also large anti-government protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Israeli media speak of the largest protests since October 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel.

In any case, the Israeli central bank advocates military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews in its annual report. According to the bank, this would be better for the Israeli economy. The central bank is thus involved in a heated political debate.

Because conscripts, soldiers and their spouses spend much more time in the army, they contribute less to economic growth, according to the bank. If the Israeli army can also conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews, it would soften the impact on the economy.

The emergency government in Israel is strongly divided over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Minister Benny Gantz recently spoke out strongly about a bill that should guarantee an exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Gantz said he will leave the emergency government if the body agrees to the proposal.

The Israeli army carried out an airstrike on Sunday on a tent camp near the Shuhada Al Aqsa Hospital in Gaza. According to the army, there was an Islamic Jihad command center there. Two Palestinians were killed in the attack and at least fifteen others were injured.

Several journalists work near the tent camp that was hit. A reporter from Al Jazeera states that journalists have been injured.

Israel confirmed the attack on Sunday afternoon. “The center and the terrorists were targeted with precision, with the aim of minimizing damage to uninvolved civilians in the area,” the military said. “The hospital building has not been damaged and its functioning has not been affected.”

While Israel carries out attacks on Gaza, the Israeli prime minister will undergo general anesthesia for a hernia operation on Sunday.

Netanyahu’s office said the hernia was discovered during a routine check-up on Saturday evening. According to the office, his condition is not serious, but it was decided in consultation with Netanyahu’s doctors that he was admitted to hospital on Sunday.

The Prime Minister made time for a meeting with his war cabinet before his hospital operation. He also said he will be back to work very soon. “I assure you that I will successfully pass this treatment and be back in action very soon.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Lening will replace him in the meantime.

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