The Israeli army, which continues its military operations in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, has stepped up its offensive in the south, and fierce fighting continues. On the other hand, there is a wide gap between the positions of Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas regarding the negotiations over the new cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages, and it is unclear whether the negotiations will progress.
I would like to report on developments regarding Israel and Palestine on December 12, Japan time.
Israeli forces continue operations in southern Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continue to operate in the southern Gaza Strip, searching underground tunnels and other sites that they believe are hiding places for leaders of the Islamic group Hamas.
In response, Hamas claimed on the 21st that it attacked and damaged Israeli army units in Khan Yunis and other areas in the south, and fierce fighting continues in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, regarding the negotiations over the new cessation of hostilities reported by some people, Hamas said on SNS on the 21st, "We will not respond to negotiations on hostages unless the Israeli invasion is completely stopped, and this is a Palestinian decision."
In addition, a senior Israeli government official said on the 21st that negotiations were suspended, and said, "We have made some progress by meeting with Qatari representatives twice last week, and we should create a new mechanism for the release of hostages."
There is a wide gap between the Israeli side, which is said to have proposed a temporary suspension of hostilities on the condition that the hostages be released, and the Hamas side, which is calling for a complete ceasefire before the release of the hostages, and it is unclear whether the negotiations will progress.
Hamas's military wing fires rockets at Tel Aviv
Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigade, posted on the 21st that it fired rockets at Tel Aviv, Israel's largest commercial city.
Footage from Tel Aviv and Herzlia distributed by Reuters shows people rushing to evacuate amid air defense sirens blaring, and white smoke can be seen in the sky, apparently caused by interception of rockets flying into the air.
There is no information on human casualties so far.
On the afternoon of the 21st, Israeli media reported that dozens of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip to Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel, including a school facility in Tel Aviv.
Reuters reports that despite the Israeli military's military operations, Hamas still maintains the ability to strike with rockets.
Israeli military "Hamas leadership uses to destroy tunnel network"
On the 21st, the Israeli military announced that it had destroyed the tunnel network used by the leadership of the Islamic organization Hamas in the center of Gaza City, and released the video.
In the video, flames from the explosion rose all at once in a wide area of Gaza City, and a building that is believed to be about five stories high is also engulfed in flames.
Israeli military spokesman Haghari said at a press conference on the 5th that the area was "home to the political and military institutions of the Islamic organization Hamas, and civilian buildings were equipped with equipment for terrorism. He was still in command from here on October 20."