Netanyahu is lost in an unknown destination

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been put in a difficult position by the surprise announcement of Hamas agreeing to a cease-fire. Now it becomes difficult for him to decide what he will do.
The Palestinian independence organization Hamas has announced that it has accepted the terms of the cease-fire in Gaza. However, the Israeli army rejected the proposal and launched a pre-planned ground operation in Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in a difficult situation after Hamas’ unexpected announcement that he has agreed to a cease-fire. Now it becomes difficult for him to decide what he will do.

Benjamin Netanyahu liked to compare himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the 2019 election campaign, the head office of the Likud party was decorated with a huge banner containing the photo of Netanyahu with the president of Russia along with the heads of state of some of the world’s most influential countries.

Putin is now a name of terror to Israelis. Netanyahu may join a new club with the Russian president. Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of involvement in war crimes. The ICC may also issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of brutal aggression, genocide and crimes against humanity in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu is so worried about the possible arrest warrants that he said in a video posted online on April 30 that if arrest warrants were issued against Israel’s top military and political leadership, it would be a “scandal of historic proportions.”

The Israeli prime minister, who is at risk of an ICC arrest warrant, has apparently been in fear for weeks. Netanyahu has taken a number of decisions against Israeli policy on aid delivery to Gaza. delayed a planned ground attack on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli forces have already launched a limited ground operation in Rafah.

Israel’s military said on Tuesday it had taken control of the Gaza section of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. At least 100,000 Palestinians were ordered to leave the area a day before the airstrikes.

Some Israeli security officials believe that Israel is sticking to its decision to attack Rafah to put pressure on Hamas. Many have advised caution until an agreement is reached to free the hostages. On the other hand, the family members of the hostages held by Hamas are demanding that Netanyahu make a deal with Hamas and free their relatives.

Last Monday (May 6) night, the Palestinian armed group Hamas announced its sudden acceptance of the ceasefire agreement. Their announcement was a big ‘shock’ for Israel. Because they never thought that Hamas would announce that they would agree to a ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has found himself in a difficult position after Hamas unexpectedly announced that it had agreed to a ceasefire. The Israeli prime minister seems to have little control over the events in Gaza and related events. Netanyahu is politically bound. Because the coalition government he currently leads is dependent on Jewish radical nationalist parties.

Israel has been threatening military operations in Rafah, Hamas’ last major stronghold, for months. More than 1 million displaced people of Gaza have taken refuge in the southern city of Rafah, bordering Egypt, in the past seven months to escape Israeli attacks.

Despite months of threats, Israel has delayed the final operation in Rafah mainly for two main reasons. The first is the intense pressure on Israel from the US. US President Joe Biden and the country’s Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Netanyahu to proceed cautiously with the Rafah operation. The Biden administration has scrutinized Israel’s plans for Rafah and said there are insufficient safeguards for civilians.

The second factor is the possibility of an agreement between Israel and Hamas. If the deal goes into effect, a large shipment of Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Hamas said it had told mediators in Qatar and Egypt that it had accepted a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release with Israel. An official of the Palestinian group Hamas said that the whole matter is now in the hands of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the proposal accepted by Hamas was “far from Israel’s basic conditions”, but talks would continue. Earlier, Israel launched airstrikes in the town of Rafah after warning Palestinians to evacuate parts of it.

Netanyahu’s government is ambivalent after announcing that Hamas has agreed to a cease-fire deal. The current coalition government led by Netanyahu is dependent on Jewish radical nationalist parties. Meanwhile, radical nationalist groups have threatened to topple the government if Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire without attacking Rafa.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smtrich and National Security Minister Itamar Bengvir said they would resign from the government if Israel accepts the proposed deal.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yohav Galant said that if Hamas does not agree to a cease-fire according to their terms, intense attacks will be launched all over Gaza, including Rafah.

Netanyahu is more concerned about Jewish radical nationalist groups. Because losing their support could lead to the fall of his government. On the contrary, if their demands are accepted, the International Court of Justice in The Hague may take strict action against Netanyahu as well as Putin.

Although Israel did not sign the Rome Statute establishing the ICC. Like the US, they do not recognize its institutional authority. Naturally, the agency cannot conduct any investigation into Israel’s role. It has jurisdiction only over member countries. Therefore, the agency can conduct investigations even if a crime occurs in a member state.

However, in 2015, Palestine was included as a member of this organization. Accordingly, the agency has the power to issue warrants against anyone in Gaza or the West Bank, in addition to investigating crimes against Israeli forces or leadership. The Biden administration is also closely cooperating with the ICC. In particular, the United States is believed to have been behind the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached US President Joe Biden to prevent ICC’s possible arrest warrant. It is reported that he has also made a telephone call to the US President. The leaders of the ICC will withdraw from the decision of the arrest warrant against the top military and political leadership of Israel due to the hope of the Israeli Prime Minister.

Source: Economist article