Israel Rushes To Normalize Gaza Before International Troops Arrive

Illustration - Israeli troops when entering Gaza in January 2024. (Israel Defense Forces/Reuters)

JAKARTA - Israel is trying to establish new conditions in Gaza before international stabilization forces are stationed as it is likely Tel Aviv will no longer be able to carry out daily attacks such as those in Lebanon, said the daily report of Yedioth Ahronoth, Sunday.

The Yedioth Ahronoth report said Israel was competing to create conditions on the ground before foreign forces arrived because responses to violations would be more sensitive once international forces arrived.

The newspaper added that Israel prefers to apply the Lebanese model in Gaza, but the situation is much more complex.

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, the Israeli military has killed at least 342 Palestinians and injured 875 others in Gaza.

Yedioth Ahronoth further called Washington's pressure another challenge, which "wanted to move into the second phase of the ceasefire framework."

Israel refused because Hamas failed to return the bodies of the three dead hostages, the report reads.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas has released 20 Israeli hostages alive and handed over 27 of the 28 bodies, mostly Israelis.

However, Israel claims the one body received did not match their list of hostages.

The daily also called Israel enforce the policy of responding firmly to any violations in Gaza to show that Hamas will not be allowed to restore its power.

The second phase of the ceasefire included easing conditions in Gaza, including reopening Rafah Crossing, adding humanitarian aid, mobility of citizens, and withdrawing Israeli troops to new lines after the regional management authorities were formed.

"After international stabilization forces have formed" which has been approved by the UN Security Council "pressure to implement the next phase is expected to increase. Foreign forces, likely from Arab and Muslim countries, are expected to arrive in a few weeks for training," the daily wrote.

Since October 2023, the Israeli genocide war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has killed nearly 70,000 people. Most of the victims who died were women and children.

The war of the genocide of the Palestinian people has also injured more than 170,000 others in the invasion that devastated much of Gaza.

The first phase of the ceasefire included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, as well as plans to rebuild Gaza and establish a new government mechanism without Hamas involvement.