It has been more than a year and a half since Benjamin Netanyahu launched an unprecedentedly intense, violent and prolonged war against the Gaza Strip. The Israeli prime minister repeatedly committed to achieving a "total victory" against Hamas, responsible for the terrorist massacre on October 7, 2023.
But the conflict has only reinforced the Islamist grip on the Palestinian enclave, eliminating any political and social alternatives. This is how recent protests against Hamas were stifled by the ongoing Israeli bombings.
As for the 251 hostages abducted more than 18 months ago, 134 were released through exchanges, eight were freed by Israeli commandos and four were released at Hamas' initiative. Only 24 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza, causing concern among their relatives since Netanyahu resumed hostilities on March 18. But the prolongation of the war ensures the stability of the far-right coalition, while preserving the power of the government leader, despite numerous trials and scandals targeting him.
March 23 massacre
This war, which has become an end in itself for the Israeli prime minister, has already ravaged the Gaza Strip, causing the direct death of more than 51,000 people, including over 15,000 children, according to data from local authorities, validated by the United Nations. Such a horrific toll would equate to 1.7 million killed, including half a million minors, if applied to the French population.
Furthermore, this toll is likely worsened by an equivalent number of indirect victims of the hostilities, due to hunger and epidemics, lack of access to healthcare and the generalized exhaustion of the population. Approximately 4,000 children suffer from severe malnutrition, as the complete siege of the enclave by the Israeli Army has lasted nearly two months. Such a massive humanitarian catastrophe could only develop by prohibiting foreign press access to the Gaza Strip, while nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed there.
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