A new video was released by the families of Israeli women soldiers from the Nahal Oz base being captured and tied up, with the more graphic parts being edited out by the IDF – the video being previously released by Hamas. Hamas has hesitated to release videos of hostages which are from categories such as children, women, old people or from the vulnerable category.
We are nearing the 9th month since the war started between Hamas and Israel and we are nowhere closer to peace than a month ago, with talks breaking down, especially since it is reported that an Egyptian official which was involved in the mediation between that warring sides had changed the deal to which Israel agreed to take to Hamas before they did, which made Israel automatically refute such a thing.
This move was received with irritation by all the international actors involved in the negotiations since the effects that the actions had caused was to generally make Israel look unserious and untrustworthy, while Hamas, having received a significantly improved deal for their side, agreed to it. The Egyptians have rejected the accusations.
The recent ICC pursuit of officials from both sides may also have the effect of making both sides double down instead of guiding them to a ceasefire deal. The odds were low to begin with, but now, without anything else to lose, both sides might go all in, even though it is reported that both sides are still engaged into talking, especially after the release of the aforementioned video. This move by the ICC has been heavily criticized by the US which is outraged by the equivalence between the sides in the conflict, but has sparked much debate all over the world as well, with many picking one side or another.
Two whistleblowers have also come forward, under anonymity, that Palestinian prisoners held at the Negev prison site have been badly treated, which has caught the attention of the UN and prompted the special rapporteur for torture to take action and start an investigation into the matter. The Physicians for Human Rights organization had previously asked for the shutdown of Sde Teiman Facility for these alleged reasons as well, back in April.
There are also hints of a new planed operation of the IDF which involves southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s presence and capability there to threaten the security of the citizens of northern Israel, according to Netanyahu, but he has refused to release any details as to what that might ensue. Hezbollah has proceeded to attack Israel through various means on a daily basis since the war started on October 7. On the 23rd of May, northern Israel endured many rocket strikes from Hezbollah after the IDF had taken out a senior Hezbollah member in the same day, but managed to neutralize the attack without casualties.
According to Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative, all EU donors have resumed their funding of UNRWA, after many had previously suspended it over allegations of the UN agency’s own employees allegedly being involved into the October 7 attack.