Home Breaking News Israel Confirms Arrest of Hamas Leader in Al-Shifa Raid

Israel Confirms Arrest of Hamas Leader in Al-Shifa Raid

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Vintage camera with paper note on wooden table. Image by jcomp on Freepik

Israel said it arrested a senior Hamas militant during a raid in the Al-Shifa neighborhood in the southern Gaza Strip earlier this week. It was the latest development in tensions between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

The Israeli military says the raid targeted a commander of Hamas militants who were responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. The man who was detained has been identified as Ahmed al-Jabari, the commander of Hamas’s military wing and a leading figure within the organization’s leadership.

The surgery on Shifa is timed as Israel increases pressure on Hamas after a series of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory over the previous weekend. After the latest attack, the Israeli political and military leadership has vowed to restore deterrence through ‘painful blows’ to militants affiliated with Hamas while reiterating the Jewish State’s commitment to the safety of Israeli citizens.

In response to the raid, Hamas has denounced Israel’s actions, calling the capture of al-Jabari a flagrant violation of Palestinian sovereignty. They have vowed ‘to respond sharply’ to ‘Israeli aggression,’ and violence in the region could escalate.

Meanwhile, the arrest of a key Hamas leader is unlikely to contribute to Israeli and Palestinian factions in Gaza reaching another ceasefire. So far, there have been few results of peace talks, with the Israeli and Palestinian camps equally consumed by their respective positions. Hostilities continue.

Citing continued rocket fire by Hamas militants, its government justified the operation as a necessary step to disrupt Hamas operations and prevent future attacks on Israel’s civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman reaffirmed the government’s objective, announcing that Israel ‘will continue its policy to fight terror and it will continue to act to protect Israeli citizens.’

The arrest of al-Jabari reminds us of the deep-seated complexity and volatility of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to rumble on and defy an easy resolution. Amid continued high tensions, calls for calm and renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a permanent settlement on both sides of the fence continue to gather pace.

Source: www.nytimes.com March 21, 2024

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