Fear and loathing surrounding India’s election

May 16, 2024

DHAKA – On Monday, Israel dropped leaflets ordering 250,000 civilians to evacuate Rafah, and moved tanks in the area that is a vital entry point for aid in the Gaza Strip. The reasoning for the Rafah invasion, given by Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, was that there was no alternative as Hamas had rejected every proposal for a temporary ceasefire and release of hostages. But by the evening, Hamas accepted a ceasefire deal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which presented a sliver of hope for peace to Gazans who have been experiencing bombing, displacement and starvation for the past seven months.

The glimmer of hope diminished shortly as the Israeli invasion of Rafah continued on. On Tuesday, a video circulating on social media by Palestinian journalists showed Israeli tanks ramming into the Palestinian side of the Rafah border. Palestinian journalists also reported that all aid deliveries had been stopped as no one in Gaza is able to travel any more.

The US has been quiet so far about the deal that Hamas has accepted, while White House has stated they oppose the Rafah invasion. On the other hand, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is currently attempting to impose economic sanctions on Israel in a “joint effort with several other European countries” if Israel advances its military operation in Rafah.

In the aftermath of Hamas’s announcement of the ceasefire deal, 1,000 Israeli protesters gathered near the defence headquarters in Tel Aviv, and 100 protesters marched towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence with banners reading, “The blood is in your hands.” According to Haaretz, Einav Zangauker, whose son is being held captive in Gaza, protested outside the home of a close Netanyahu