Israel - Hamas conflict: Many new movements

According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli army confirmed that it will withdraw five combat brigades that are participating in the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Three training brigades and two reserve brigades 551 and 14 will withdraw from Gaza “based on an assessment of the situation and the development of the fighting” on the ground. The announcement was made as Israeli soldiers continue their military campaign in Gaza.

At the same time, the US said it would withdraw one of its aircraft carriers from the Middle East. According to ABC News, the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier will leave the region after three deployment extensions since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In another development, Israel announced its readiness to allow the opening of relief operations to the Gaza Strip through a sea corridor originating from Cyprus, and said that four European countries could participate in this plan.

Under a proposal put forward by Cyprus in November, the aid ship would be assembled and security checked at the port of Larnaca before sailing to the Gaza coast, 370km away, without passing through Egypt or Israel. If implemented, it would be the first time Israel has eased the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the territory.

The idea of a maritime humanitarian corridor is seen as a possible response to a December 22 UN Security Council resolution calling for expanded humanitarian mechanisms. Currently, European and Arab countries send aid to the Gaza Strip through the Egyptian coastal town of Al Arish. Israel also participates in monitoring this transport.

At a time when the fighting between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of abating, Israel’s green light for maritime relief operations is seen as a positive development. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that at least 100,000 people have evacuated to the Gaza city of Rafah in recent days.

As the world entered the new year 2024, several rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Tel Aviv and southern Israel. Hamas claimed to have carried out two attacks with M90 rockets in response to Israel's previous airstrikes on Gaza.

THANH HANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xung-dot-israel-hamas-nhieu-chuyen-dong-moi-post720925.html