Israeli minister calls for 'opening the gates of hell' in Gaza
"We must return to war," said Itamar Ben-Gir. The declaration violates the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory.
247 - Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gir, stated that his country must "return to war" and open the "gates of hell" in the Gaza Strip, where a genocide has been taking place with more than 68 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
“Now we have the opportunity to stop everything and say: 'For a moment, the captives have returned, thank God, brothers'. That was the main reason why we did not continue the war, and now we have to go back to the fight, we have to go back to the war, we have to open the gates of hell over them,” he said in an interview with Channel 14 this Sunday (19).
“I urge the Prime Minister to order the Israeli army to resume full-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip,” he said in a statement, quoted by The Times of Israel, calling for Hamas to be “completely destroyed as quickly as possible.”
Scary numbers
O The Israeli government violated the ceasefire agreement. signed last Monday (13). The violation resulted in the death of nearly 100 people and left another 230 injured, according to information released by the Gaza Media Office and cited by Al Jazeera.
According to information from the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health, more than 68 Palestinians have died since October 2023 as a result of Israeli offensives. The agency also reports that the attacks have resulted in the displacement of more than 1,9 million people, representing approximately 90% of the enclave's population.
On August 22, the United Nations reported that more than 500 people in Gaza are facing famine, according to the Integrated Food Security Classification. This was the first time that famine had been officially recorded in the Middle East, and projections indicate that the situation is worsening.
At the time, the UN commented on the data: "A food security report, supported by the organization, portrays a situation of widespread starvation, misery and preventable deaths," it stated, adding that it is "a failure of humanity itself."
Ceasefire agreement
On the 13th of this month, a ceasefire agreement was signed in the Gaza Strip with the participation of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. According to Israeli authorities, on the same day, 250 Palestinians serving long sentences or life imprisonment were released, in addition to 1.700 detainees without formal charges. Of the total, 154 were sent to Egypt, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
The document establishes that Israel must carry out a partial withdrawal of its troops from the region. In return, the release of prisoners from both sides is foreseen: Hamas must release all Israelis held captive since October 2023, while Israel agreed to release approximately 2 Palestinians, including women, children, and people imprisoned for decades.
The agreement also provides for the opening of corridors for the entry of humanitarian aid, allowing the shipment of food, medicine, and fuel. The implementation of the measures will be monitored by an international coalition formed by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UN.
Complaints in International Courts
In December 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The petition requested immediate measures against Israeli authorities. In response, Israel stated that its operations were defensive in nature and rejected the accusations. Brazil expressed support for the South African initiative.
In January 2024, the ICJ ruled that Israel must take measures to prevent genocide, punish those who incite the destruction of the Palestinian people, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the court did not grant South Africa's request for an immediate suspension of military operations. Several countries, including Brazil, declared their support for the process.
Subsequently, in November 2024, the ICJ issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders, accusing them of war crimes. Both Israeli officials and Hamas representatives rejected the accusations.
