Hamas Or Netanyahu: Who Is Responsible For The Resumption Of War?
After an eight week of relative calm in Gaza, the air strikes launched on Netanyahu’s order killed more than 400 Palestinians on Tuesday ending the talks to secure a permanent ceasefire stalled.
Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement accusing ‘Hamas of being responsible for the war’. Netanyahu repeated the October 7 incident and alleged Hamas with raping and murdering Jewish people and children in the adjacent land of Gaza.
Netanyahu accused Hamas of refusing offer after offer to release hostages taken on October 7 and reiterated that his government did not initiate any military action in the past 2 weeks. According to Netanyahu, he added that his government expected Hamas to change course but it did not.
While mentioning President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff’s offer, Netanyahu accused Hamas of refusing the offer and as a result renewal of military action.
The military does not target Palestinian Civilians, they target Hamas militias, he said, but using Palestinians as human shields by Hamas causes the intended casualties he added. Netanyahu calls Palestinians to remain away from Hamas to avoid casualties.
Questioning those who criticize Netayahu’s government for brutality against people in Gaza, he said, “What you will do if terrorist attacks you. You will do what we are doing”.
Hamas is responsible for this war. pic.twitter.com/JRabT6KAv4
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 18, 2025
While deconstructing the Netanyahu’s claim accusing Hamas to violate and not complying with the ceasefire agreement, Stanly Johny, a West Asia expert and foreign editor with ‘The Hindu’ media group shared post on social media X and put facts of three-phase ceasfire violation by Netanyahu military.
“Israel agreed to a three-phase ceasefire with Hamas under the mediation of three countries. After Phase 1, Israel refused to honour the terms of the next phase. Instead, it demanded Hamas to extend the Phase 1 arrangement. When Hamas refused (or rather demanded to stick to the terms of the original ceasefire), Israel launched one of its heaviest air strikes on Gaza, killing over 400 Palestinians within a matter of hours”.
Israel agreed to a three-phase ceasefire with Hamas under the mediation of three countries. After Phase 1, Israel refused to honour the terms of the next phase. Instead, it demanded Hamas to extend the Phase 1 arrangement. When Hamas refused (or rather demanded to stick to the…
— Stanly Johny (@johnstanly) March 18, 2025
Under the 3-phase deal mediated with the efforst of Qatar, Egypt and US, the Jewish and American hostages were to release in different sets and other conditions were also supposed to be met. The follow up to the next stage was supposed to be based on the success of an earlier phase of ceasfire. Amid the talks to follow up to the second phase Israel has been damanding the release of all the hostages at once despite the earlier agreement.
However, Netanyahu goverment had insisted that no writtedn guarantees be given to rule out resumption of its attacks once the first phase is complete and hostages returned.
