Middle East

Chief of the General Staff rules out an early end to the war

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi(Bild: AFP)

Israel's Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi has ruled out an early end to the Gaza war. "Our military results are excellent. But there is still a long way to go before we can achieve our war aims," he said on Tuesday.

To get closer to these, the Hamas leadership around leader Jihia al-Sinwar would have to be eliminated and even more commanders and fighters of the Islamist militia would have to be killed. The 130 or so Israeli hostages must regain their freedom. At the same time, Herzi Halevi argued that Palestinian civilians who have fled and are currently in Rafah must be able to return to safety.

Risky missions "every week"
 Risky missions to free the hostages take place "every week." As reported, elite police and army commandos took two male hostages from a house in Rafah on Monday night without anyone being injured. Other attempts would not succeed or even fail. "We will not stop trying and we will do it in a responsible way," Halevi said.

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi(Bild: AFP)

Efforts for further ceasefire
On Tuesday, representatives from the USA, Israel, Qatar and Egypt renewed their efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war (see video above). Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister in Qatar. Any agreement in the ongoing talks must ensure a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and a serious deal on the exchange of hostages and prisoners, he said.

Last November, 105 hostages were released during a ceasefire in return for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Representatives from the USA, Egypt and Qatar had already mediated at the time.