The U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a non-binding resolution calling for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”” in Gaza – a call that the paralyzed Security Council has so far failed to make.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallan said on Monday that the next phase of the war in Gaza would consist of lower-intensity fighting against “pockets of resistance” and would require Israeli troops to maintain their freedom of operation, according to the Associated Press. “This is a sign that the next phase has begun,” he said. He pushed back against international calls to end the country's military offensive in Gaza, saying the current phase of the operation against the Hamas militant group “will take time.” In a briefing with The Associated Press, Gallant declined to commit to firm deadlines but suggested that the current phase, characterized by heavy ground combat supported by air power, could drag on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months could.
The White House said it was “concerned” by reports that the Israeli military was using white phosphorus bombs against targets in Lebanon. At a morning briefing John KirbyCoordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, said the use of the highly incendiary substance could legally be used as a cover to conceal military operations, but that the US would seek clarification from Israel on how the supplies would be used.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant gave a cursory and noncommittal response when asked at his briefing on Monday about reports that the country had used white phosphorus in military attacks. The Israeli armed forces acted “in accordance with international law,” he said.
Gallant also said Israel has “no intention” of remaining permanently in Gaza after completing its military campaign to destroy Hamas. The country is open to discussing alternatives about who will control the area as long as it is not an anti-Israel group, he said, and would consider a deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon if security guarantees are provided.
Israel will open the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza on Tuesday to speed up the security vetting of humanitarian aid. A spokesman for Cogat, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating activities in the areas, said all aid delivery would continue to go through the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, but increasing screening capacity would double the amount arriving.
European leaders Leo Varadkar of Ireland, Pedro Sanchez of Spain, Robert Abela of Malta and Alexander De Croo of Belgium wrote to EU President Charles Michel calling for a discussion on a Gaza ceasefire at the trade union summit on 14 and 15. December. US broadcaster CNN said the letter expressed “concern” about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and questioned Israel's military campaign and its impact on civilians.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip updated the number of casualties since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, saying 18,205 Palestinians had been killed and 49,645 injured. The reported death toll rose by more than 500 in the two days since Saturday and stood at 17,700, the ministry said.
Qatar has spoken to Israel to gauge interest in talks about a possible new pause in fighting in Gaza. said a journalist from Axios. The report directly contradicts the position of diplomats at the annual Doha Forum conference in Qatar, who said they did not expect Gaza ceasefire talks to resume for several weeks.
At least 52 people were arrested in Washington DC on Monday at a protest calling on the US to push for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Activists from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace and other groups briefly protested in a Senate office building before police ended the demonstration and took dozens into custody.
Italy, France and Germany called on the European Union to impose ad hoc sanctions against Hamas and its supporters. “We express our full support for the… proposal to create an ad hoc sanctions regime against Hamas and its supporters,” said a letter to the EU foreign policy chief. Josep Borrell.
France is also considering imposing national sanctions to those involved in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the French foreign minister said, Catherine Colonnahas said.
Harvard University's board of directors faced increasing pressure on Monday to publicly declare his support for the university president or oust him, according to a Portal report. It follows comments she made last week at a congressional hearing on anti-Semitism.
UN Security Council ambassadors arrived in Egypt to visit the Rafah border crossing. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official told envoys during a briefing: “There is no justification for turning a blind eye to the pain and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Israel told the United Nations it needs to “do better” in providing aid to the people of Gaza. The country said it was ready to double the number of inspections, but “assistance continues to wait at the entrance to Rafah.” Since October 7, Israel has essentially blockaded the Gaza Strip and temporarily disrupted telecommunications. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt is the only entry or exit into Gaza that has been regularly open, and Israel insists on screening all cargo shipped into the territory
The Israeli military says 104 members of its forces have been killed in Gaza since the ground operation began. In addition, the IDF stated that 582 soldiers were injured in the Gaza Strip. The total number of casualties since October 7th is 433 soldiers killed and 1,645 wounded.