Trump authorizes bombings of Gaza while Israel violates ceasefire.
'Israeli forces will return to these streets as soon as I say the word,' stated the White House chief.
247 - US President Donald Trump admitted on Wednesday (15), in an interview with CNN, that he might consider allowing Israeli forces to resume bombing the Gaza Strip if Hamas did not comply with its part of the ceasefire agreement.
"Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and wipe them out, they would," Trump told CNN in a brief phone call when asked what would happen if Hamas refused to disarm.
The White House chief and representatives from three other countries - Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - signed the agreement last Monday (13). But one controversial point stands out: the management in Gaza will be the responsibility of a transitional government, which will be monitored by a committee headed by the US president.
The Islamic group that governs the Gaza Strip, Hamas denounced that its members were not represented in the supposedly "technocratic" administration to be implemented in Palestinian territory, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
While authorities involved in the matter attempt to resolve outstanding issues related to the peace plan, Israel resumes attacks on Gaza., where, according to the local Ministry of Health, approximately 68 Palestinians have died as victims of Israeli attacks since October 2023.
The deal
An agreement signed by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye stipulates a partial troop withdrawal, prisoner exchanges, and international supervision.
According to Israeli authorities, last Monday (13) 250 Palestinians sentenced to long terms or life imprisonment were released, in addition to 1.700 detainees who had no formal charges; of the total, 154 Palestinian prisoners were deported to Egypt, reported the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
The agreement stipulates that Israel will carry out a partial withdrawal of its forces from the Gaza Strip and that prisoners will be released by both sides: Hamas commits to releasing all Israelis held since October 2023, while Israel has agreed to release approximately 2 Palestinians, including women, children, and people detained for decades, according to the text of the agreement.
The pact also includes the opening of corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid — food, medicine and fuel should enter Gaza as part of the truce.
Monitoring the implementation will be assigned to an international coalition formed by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Nations (UN), responsible for monitoring compliance with the measures established in the agreement.
Allegations
In December 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), requesting urgent measures against Israeli authorities on the grounds of genocide against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.
In its legal filing, South Africa argues that both the military operations and the Israeli state's inaction constitute violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel rejected the accusations, maintaining that its actions are defensive in nature in the face of terrorist attacks.
Brazil has declared its formal support for the South African initiative. In January 2024, the ICJ determined that Israel should take measures to prevent genocide, hold accountable those who incite the destruction of the Palestinian people, and guarantee the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. However, the court did not grant South Africa's request for an immediate suspension of military operations.
Several countries, including Brazil, expressed support for the process. In November 2024, the ICJ issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders, accusing them of war crimes. Both the Israeli government and Hamas contested and rejected these accusations.
