Israeli captives deaths send clear messages to 'Israel': Expert

By Al Mayadeen English

Several Israeli settlers being found dead in Rafah sends a clear message to the Israeli occupation that the face of the battle is shifting.

The Israeli occupation forces have discovered the bodies of six captives in a tunnel located in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, which the Israeli occupation forces have been bombarding and invading for the past four months. According to Israeli occupation forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, the soldiers were killed by fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.

Hani al-Dali, an expert on Palestinian Resistance affairs, stated that the deaths of the captives at such a critical time and within the complex context of the ongoing battles in Rafah represent a dramatic shift on the battlefield. He emphasized that despite all efforts, the Israeli forces have failed to rescue any of their soldiers in what he referred to as the "City of the Black Box," highlighting the capabilities of al-Qassam's military intelligence in protecting both their fighters and the Israeli captives while imposing new realities on the ground.

Al-Dali further noted that this incident sends a powerful message to Israeli leaders, reflecting the depth of the military and political strategy of the resistance. The following points summarize these messages:

1- Cabinet decision is flawed: The continued military policies related to the Philadelphi Corridor demonstrate a clear failure in Israeli assessments, necessitating a reassessment of their expansionist strategies, particularly the occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor.

2- Message to the families of the captives: Al-Dali urged the families of the captured soldiers to take action to save their sons, not from the resistance, but from the decisions of Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose actions may worsen their situation and lead to their deaths under certain conditions.

3- The fallacy of military pressure: Increased military pressure on Gaza is unlikely to result in the rescue of more captives. Instead, it may lead to unexpected outcomes, such as the deaths of the captives.

Al-Dali concluded by saying that these developments reflect a combination of military strength and political vision, demonstrating the Palestinian Resistance's awareness of the military dynamics and the Israeli occupation's objectives while challenging them clearly and directly.

In line with these observations, Israeli media reported that Security Minister Yoav Gallant is expected to propose a reconsideration of the Cabinet's decision to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor during Sunday's Cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, the families of the captured soldiers are calling for strikes, protests, and a shutdown in the Israeli occupation following the announcement of the discovery of the six soldiers' bodies.

In a related context, an Israeli official involved in the ceasefire negotiations told the Times of Israel that the recovery of the six soldiers' bodies, who were recently alive, is the latest evidence that military pressure without parallel diplomatic initiatives condemns the captives to death.

The official expressed regret that Prime Minister Netanyahu has focused on the importance of military pressure while neglecting the need to enhance diplomatic efforts, including a potential prisoner exchange deal.

Deal or tantrum?

Axios reported on Friday, citing Israeli sources, that a cabinet meeting on Thursday erupted into a heated confrontation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the report, the discussions primarily focused on a proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza, which has been stalled for weeks after Netanyahu introduced new conditions to US President Joe Biden's July proposal for a ceasefire.

During the meeting, Gallant argued for moving forward with the deal, that it was not just about securing the release of captives but also a crucial strategic decision for "Israel." 

Gallant said that a ceasefire could reduce regional tensions with Iran and Hezbollah, allowing the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to regroup and shift focus to other threats.

Netanyahu, however, insisted on keeping the IOF fully deployed along the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border, a position opposed by both Hamas and Egypt.

He presented maps showing the IOF's deployment and claimed that these plans had the endorsement of the Biden administration.

Gallant challenged Netanyahu, accusing him of misrepresenting the military's position, and argued that maintaining the current deployment could jeopardize the ceasefire deal and worsen regional tensions.

The argument escalated, with Netanyahu banging his hand on the table and accusing Gallant of lying. Gallant retorted, suggesting that Netanyahu's approach could undermine negotiations and put the captives' lives at greater risk.