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Israel has approved an agreement with the Hamas Movement that includes a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners after facing political and military pressure on several fronts.
In a pivotal vote early on November 22 morning, Israelās cabinet approved the agreement to secure the release of roughly 50 hostages who were abducted into Gaza during Hamasās October 7 surprise attack.
The hostages, mostly women and children, will be released in groups of 12-13 people per day. In exchange Israel will release 150-300 Palestinian women and minors from prison and return them to where they used to live, mostly the West Bank and East Jerusalem, pause fighting for four days and allow the entry of more fuel to the Strip.
In addition, there will be six hours a day when the Israeli military will not be allowed to use drones to gather intelligence on activities in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war against Hamas in Gaza will continue until all of Israelās goals are achieved. However, the deal was widely seen as a blow to Israeli war efforts and a win for Hamas.
Israeli ground operations in northern Gaza slowed down in the days leading to the deal and the death toll of troops increased by nearly two dozens, reaching 69 on November 22.
During the same period Israel faced more pressure on other fronts. Hezbollah increased its attacks from southern Lebanon, using more destructive weapons, like heavy rockets and suicide drones. Meanwhile, the Houthis in Yemen de-facto closed the Bab-el-Mandeb strait in the face of Israeli ships after seizing an Israeli-owned car-carrier on November 19.
Attacks on United States bases in Syria and Iraq also increased, reaching 66 by November 21. This led to more pressure from Washington on Israel.
The U.S.has been growing tired of supporting Israelās war on Gaza, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 14,000 Palestinains, on top of its endless military aid to Ukraine. Hebrew media reports suggest that the Israelis are worried that Washington could push for an extension of the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, or even for a permanent one. Such a development would mark an unprecedented defeat for Israel.
In addition, countries like Egypt, Jordan and Turkey have been getting more vocal with their criticism of the war on Gaza, mounting even more pressure on Israel and rising the threat of an all-out regional conflict.
In face of this political and military pressure from foes and allies alike, Israel appears to be running out of options. The Israeli case for a complete war against Gaza is falling apart. Still, Netanyahu could take the risk of prolonging the war in order to save his collapsing government.
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Army gathering blown up and other Israeli losses by Hezbollah
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In one day several Israeli concentrations in Al-Manara destroyed by Hezbollah
In one day several Israeli concentrations in AlManara destroyed by Hezbollah
Despite agreeing to a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israel continues to escalate on other fronts causing more tensions in the Middle East.
The four-day ceasefire in Gaza, which is supposed to include the release of 50 Israeli hostages by Hamas and some 150-300 Palestinains prisoners from Israeli jails, entered into effect on November 24. However, tensions remained high on other fronts.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stepped up operations against both Lebanon and Syria in the days leading to the ceasefire in Gaza.
On November 21, two journalists of the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV and a senior commander of the Palestinian Hamas Movement were killed in two separate Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. More escalation was reported on November 22. Another Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed five fighters of Hezbollah, one of whom was the son of a senior official of the group.
Also on November 22, two waves of Israeli strikes targeted Syria, with the second targeting the town of Set Zaynab to the south of the capital, Damascus. Iranās Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah are known to be present and active in the town.
The Yemeni front was also active in the days leading to the ceasefire in Gaza. On November 22, the Houthis launched a number of cruise missiles from Yemen at military targets in the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat. The IDF said that one missile was intercepted by a fighter jet over the Red Sea.
In addition, a United States warship intercepted multiple suicide drones, which were launched by the Houthis from Yemen, over the Red Sea on November 23.
The U.S. contribution to the Israeli war on Gaza was not limited to the Yemeni front. A series of U.S. strikes hit Iraq on November 21 and 22, killing nine fighters of the Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI). The Pentagon said that the strikes were a retaliation to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The IRI responded with a series of rocket and drone attacks on U.S. bases in both countries.
While the temporary ceasefire in Gaza was widely seen as a sign of de-escalation, Israeli provocations on other fronts could lead to a dangerous confrontation with Iran and its allies. In addition, Israeli officials appear to be determined to continue the war on the Strip.
U.S., Egypt and Qatar, who brokered the ceasefire, are reportedly working to expand it. Cairo and Doha are worried about an all-out war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Washington is likely just concerned that the Israeli war is distracting attention from Ukraine.
