“We are not just fighting for Israel. We are fighting for the international community and human dignity.” The statement was made by Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen, this Tuesday morning (17), at a press conference.
According to Cohen, “most of the free world will face difficult days” along with Israel. “I’m sure you’ve seen the videos, you’ve seen the photos. There is only one person responsible: Hamas,” said the minister.
The press conference also featured testimonies from victims of Hamas attacks on Israel. Renana Gome’s two children were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. She was talking to her children on the phone when the apartment they were staying in was invaded.
“I don’t know anything about them, I don’t know how they are, how they were taken, no information. 80 people ranging in age from six months to 86 years old were removed from my small community. And my message to the world is: we need the world to step up to free them immediately. It needs to be the number one item on the agenda of Israel and the world,” said Gome.
Shaylee Atari was chased by members of Hamas for 28 hours with her one-month-old daughter. Her husband had been murdered while they tried to hide in the couple’s bedroom.
“When the Israeli Army found us, my daughter was apathetic, dehydrated, and at the hospital they said she was ‘crying without tears’. My daughter inhaled so much smoke that she needed to be on oxygen for 91 hours. The person who found my husband was my neighbor, and she said he was shot in the head. Our family is broken, I have no energy to speak, 70 people massacred our kibbutz. My father-in-law is burying his son, his niece, her husband and their twin babies. I try to find relief thinking that at least they didn’t burn my baby, like they burned others; that they didn’t open my belly, like they did with other mothers; that they didn’t kill my dog, who was rescued. A neighbor of mine was killed and dismembered, I think: why did they do this to us?” Atari said, excited.
This Tuesday morning (17), the family of Tchelet Fishbein-Zaarur, daughter of a Brazilian mother, confirmed the death of the 18-year-old girl. The Army reported that her body, which had been missing since October 7, was found near the Gaza border. According to the Israeli government, there are 199 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Lt. Peter Lerner, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, detailed the Israel Armed Forces’ next steps in the conflict. According to the lieutenant, more than 300,000 reservists were called up and the Army works along three lines:
- remove the Hamas threat from the Gaza Strip region;
- rebuild the barrier between Israel and Gaza, which has more than 20 points of possible penetration by terrorists;
- and completely destroy Hamas, including the perpetrators of the acts of October 7, but also its leaders, financiers and recruiters.
The lieutenant also drew attention to the escalation of tensions on Israel’s border with Lebanon, and held Iran and the Lebanese government responsible for supporting the activities of the Hezbollah group in the region.
“We are seeing an escalation of Hezbollah activities against Israel north of our border. We have already prepared our troops and can act on two fronts”, warned Lieutenant Peter Lerner. “Iran is interested in this escalation. I ask that the Lebanese government keeps an eye on what we are doing in the Gaza Strip and how we are destroying Hamas, leader by leader, terrorist by terrorist. And we hope they prevent Hellzbolah from carrying out attacks against our people.”
Also on Tuesday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, said that if the “atrocities” in the Gaza region continue, “Muslims and resistance forces may lose patience”, warning of an escalation in conflicts. At the same time, US deputies are pressuring President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Iran for its support of Hamas. Biden will visit Israel this Wednesday (18).
The Brazilian government is trying to find a peaceful way out of the conflict. As the rotating leader of the UN Security Council during the month of October, Brazil’s proposal, which will be discussed today, condemns Hamas, demands the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the population in Gaza and calls for the release of all hostages.
Meanwhile, on the southern border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, airstrikes took place this morning about a kilometer from the Rafah crossing, the main route into and out of the region. On the Egyptian side, trucks with products and supplies wait to enter Gaza. On the other side, families — including Brazilians — try to escape the conflict.
According to information from Itamaraty on CNN one of the Egyptian government’s conditions for reopening the Rafah crossing is that Israel authorizes the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which could prevent a mass flight of Palestinian citizens in the region.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
