A Two-Front Escalation: Israel Rejects 'Comprehensive Deal' and Prepares for Offensive, Amidst International Moves for Two-State Solution

Tensions are mounting in the political and military landscape of the Middle East, as Israel has unequivocally rejected the latest proposal from the Hamas movement for a "comprehensive deal" aimed at ending the war in Gaza and freeing all Israeli hostages. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the proposal as "propaganda with nothing new," asserting that the war's end is contingent upon achieving Israel's goals: the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, the establishment of full Israeli security control over the Strip, and the creation of an alternative civilian administration.

This Israeli response follows a Hamas statement confirming its readiness for a comprehensive exchange deal, where hostages would be released in return for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hamas also reiterated its willingness to form an "independent national administration of technocrats" to manage Gaza's affairs. This proposal came after a call from President Donald Trump for Hamas to release "all 20 remaining living hostages," a call that Israel responded to with rejection.

On the ground, all eyes are on Gaza, as Israeli forces prepare for a large-scale ground operation in Gaza City, home to nearly a million people. A senior official from the Israeli government's Coordination of Government Activities in the Palestinian Territories (COGAT) unit revealed expectations of "one million people being displaced" from Gaza City to the south. The official noted that around 70,000 Gazans had already left the northern part of the Strip and that Israel is working to establish a new "humanitarian zone" extending from refugee camps in central Gaza to the coastal area of Al-Mawasi, despite Al-Mawasi itself having been subjected to previous shelling. These developments are unfolding amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting that over 76,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the past two weeks, and famine has been declared in parts of the city.

The humanitarian tragedy is compounded by continuous Israeli shelling, which has resulted in thousands of casualties. A report from the Gaza Ministry of Health documented a death toll of 63,746 and 161,245 injuries. The report also detailed the deaths of 33 people and the injury of 141 others while they were waiting for humanitarian aid. The human suffering is encapsulated in heartbreaking testimonies from residents, such as the mother who lost her pregnant daughter, her unborn fetus, her son-in-law, and her grandchildren in a strike on their apartment, highlighting the terror faced by civilians.

In a separate political context, tensions are escalating between Israel and several Western nations. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu refused to receive French President Emmanuel Macron, conditioning the visit on France reversing its decision to recognize a Palestinian state. Netanyahu also attacked Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever after Belgium announced its intention to recognize Palestine and impose sanctions on Israel, calling the move an "attempt to appease terrorism." These actions coincide with the Belgian Foreign Minister's announcement that Brussels will recognize Palestine and impose 12 sanctions on Israel, including a ban on imports from settlements.

Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is attempting to push forward his plan to annex the West Bank, which has drawn strong condemnation from Arab and international circles. Smotrich, in a press conference, stated that the idea of a Palestinian state is "an idea that must be completely eliminated," and that imposing sovereignty over the West Bank is a "realistic step" to counter the "political attack." However, informed sources reported that Netanyahu decided to remove this topic from the meeting's agenda. Smotrich's statements were met with outright rejection from Jordan and the UAE. Jordan called them a "dangerous and unacceptable escalation" and a "blatant violation of international law," while the UAE described them as a "red line" that "undermines the Abraham Accords."