Israel “Hamas loses control”…U.S. brakes on Netanyahu ‘indefinite security responsibility’ plan

50,000 Residents of Gaza Evacuate Southward
Israeli Military: “Possible to Allow a Ceasefire for Humanitarian Purposes”
Blinken: “Post-war Gaza Rule Must be Palestinian-Centric”

The Israeli military has assessed that Palestinian armed group Hamas is losing control as residents are fleeing Gaza in droves. The U.S. has put a brake on Israel’s plan to indefinitely take responsibility for the security of Gaza after the war.

According to the Financial Times (FT) on May 8, Colonel Daniel Higarli, the chief spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), confirmed that “50,000 residents of Gaza have moved from the north to the south,” adding, “This is because Hamas has lost control in the north, and they know there are safer areas in the south.”

He also stated, “A ceasefire for humanitarian purposes is possible for a certain period,” and that “it will give the residents of Gaza time to move south for their safety.” The Israeli military is suspending attacks for four hours a day to allow Palestinian citizens to evacuate.

In the U.S., there has been a crackdown on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement of ‘indefinite security responsibility.’ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted, “There may be a need for a transition when the war ends, but the governing bodies of Gaza and the West Bank should be Palestinian-centered.” He then outlined key principles regarding measures for Gaza after the war and the expulsion of Hamas, including △prohibiting the forced migration of Palestinians within Gaza △prohibiting the reoccupation of Gaza △prohibiting attempts to blockade and besiege Gaza △prohibiting the reduction of Gaza’s territory △ensuring Gaza is not used as a base for terrorism, and preventing terrorism in the West Bank.

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, the discord between the U.S. and Israel is growing. The two countries are showing differences over a temporary ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported that the increasing civilian casualties in the Palestinian Gaza Strip have led to moral unease and a critical view of Israel within the U.S. government.