The semi-war situation that has once again erupted between Israel and Gaza since Sunday night continued on the evening of Tuesday, November 22. A senior Israeli Air Force official told the media that Israel conducted its "heaviest airstrikes" on Gaza during the early hours of Tuesday. On the other hand, the most extensive rocket attacks from Gaza to southern Israel in the past four years continued, and Palestinian armed organizations expressed their readiness to launch rockets at further points in Israel. While the Israeli army has called up thousands of its reserve soldiers to continue the crisis, mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and Norway to end this situation also continued on Tuesday. Some evidence suggests that the leaders of the armed Palestinian organizations in Gaza have not ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire, but Israel, which held a lengthy security cabinet meeting, has not yet taken a clear position. A look at what has been happening in this part of the Middle East since Sunday night.
What motivated this round of crisis? The deployment of a special commando team from the Israeli army on Sunday night to the eastern part of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip was apparently aimed at capturing or killing Marwan Abdul Karim Issa, known as Abu Barrah, the deputy of Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas's military branch. This commando operation failed, but seven other senior Hamas members, including the well-known commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Nur al-Din Muhammad Salama Barakah, were killed. The second lieutenant "M" commander of the Israeli special unit was also killed, and another officer from this unit was injured; the vehicle of the Israeli unit entering Gaza was also destroyed. The number of rockets fired from Gaza to Israel: more than 400 rockets were launched in less than 24 hours, but Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted about 100 rockets. Which cities in Israel were targeted by the rockets? The furthest city was Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast, which is an important port for imports and exports, to Sderot, the nearest town just 7 kilometers from Gaza. The "Joint Operations Room of the Resistance" has threatened that it is ready to use its longer-range rockets to attack the cities of Ashdod and Beersheba, and if necessary, to fire at central areas of Israel. Casualties and damage inflicted on Israel: The second lieutenant "M" commander of the commando unit was a 48-year-old Palestinian architect from Gaza who worked in Ashkelon with an official permit and could sleep there at night. Injuries on the Israeli side: one officer from a special army unit, one soldier, and a 60-year-old woman, with about 100 Israelis receiving treatment in hospitals for "psychological shock." Financial damages on the Israeli side: serious damage to several residential houses, a kindergarten, and damage to farms. An Israeli military bus was completely destroyed by Palestinian Kornet missiles on Tuesday night (the bus had just dropped off all the soldiers. It seems that the Palestinians deliberately targeted the bus after the soldiers were disembarked to prevent the worsening of the war crisis, as in past experiences, Israel is prepared to enter into war due to attacks on its soldiers).
Israeli attacks on Gaza and damage inflicted on Palestinians: Israeli fighter jets attacked more than "100" targets across Gaza in less than 24 hours, including wealthier neighborhoods in central Gaza; simultaneously, Israeli naval boats from the shore and Israeli tanks targeted "objectives" in Gaza with artillery shells. Areas hit in Gaza: the destruction of a multi-story building of the Al-Aqsa radio and television network, the complete destruction of at least 9 multi-story residential and governmental buildings in various parts of Gaza. The Israeli army first sends a warning missile to the roof of each building or its vicinity, allowing Palestinians to understand that a real missile attack is imminent and they must quickly evacuate the building. For this reason, Palestinian casualties have been lower despite widespread destruction. Casualties on the Palestinian side since the beginning of the crisis: 13 dead and dozens injured. Sheikh Nur al-Din Muhammad Salama Barakah, one of the senior commanders of the al-Qassam Brigades, and another member of these brigades were killed in the Israeli commando attack on Sunday night; six other Palestinians lost their lives in subsequent Israeli attacks.
Actions of leaders: Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, cut short his trip to Paris on Monday morning and held lengthy emergency meetings with military commanders and officials from Mossad and security organizations on Monday and Tuesday. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, also cut short his official trip to Kuwait on Tuesday and returned to Ramallah to address the crisis; the Minister of Health of the Palestinian government ordered the transfer of large shipments of medicine and medical equipment from the West Bank to Gaza. The leaders of the armed Palestinian organizations in the "Joint Operations Room of the Resistance" in Gaza, while directing the military aspect of the crisis, continued to contact regional mediators and, according to Al Jazeera, indicated a "green light" for a possible ceasefire. Crisis mediators: Abbas Kamel, head of Egyptian intelligence, emphasized that he would travel to Gaza and Israel with a delegation on Wednesday; officials from Qatar and Norway. Reactions: From Hezbollah and Iran, who are allies of Hamas, to Russia and Qatar, there were expressions of concern about the crisis. Iran and its allies, like Palestinian leaders, considered Israel the cause of the crisis. Jordan and other Arab countries called for an immediate cessation of the crisis. The United States sided with Israel and strongly condemned the "rocket-launching terrorists."
Political gains and losses from the crisis: The continuation of the crisis and even the possibility of it escalating into a large-scale operation benefits Benjamin Netanyahu, as it meets the demands of southern residents and opposition leaders who accuse Netanyahu of "weakness" and further consolidates his position ahead of an early parliamentary election. The political and especially financial losses of this crisis are heavily borne by the Palestinians this time; with the agreement of Israel and Egypt, Qatar had begun transferring $90 million to Gaza since Saturday this week to provide fuel and pay overdue salaries to Palestinians. With the operations of Mossad, the first part of this money, including $15 million, reached Gaza. The continuation of the crisis delays this extensive financial assistance. On the other hand, with the further consolidation of Hamas's rule in Gaza, the practical reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is further delayed, effectively solidifying two Palestinian governments in the West Bank and Gaza; this situation will hinder the independence of the Palestinian state; under such conditions, the Palestinians and their leaders are caught in a double bind. This is aside from the enormous financial damages that have been inflicted on Gaza in less than the first two days of the crisis.
Outlook of the crisis: It seems that both sides will very soon reach another unwritten ceasefire and this round will end, only for another opportunity for hostilities to flare up again. Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday night that the leaders of the Palestinian organizations are ready for a ceasefire, but the Israeli side has not yet taken a clear position, although evidence suggests they may agree to a ceasefire.