Israel Signals Intent to Invade Gaza

• Hours after a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday, Israel looked poised to launch a ground invasion into parts of the Gaza Strip. Seemingly brushing aside US concerns, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's forces were "charging forward" and that the plan was for a total military victory. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• "We continue to fight with all our strength until we achieve all our goals," Netanyahu said. "The return of all our abductees, the elimination of Hamas, and the promise that Gaza will never be a threat to Israel again." Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had once again condemned Hamas and reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself. However, he insisted "that Israel act in accordance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war, even when confronting a terrorist group that respects neither," adding that the US expects Israel to take more effective steps at protecting civilians. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• On a number of occasions in recent weeks, the US has also insisted that there be no reduction in Gaza's territory following the war. However, according to a report by the Israeli broadcaster Kan, citing officials with knowledge of the matter, Netanyahu is said to have rejected the US stance, reportedly telling Blinken that Israel will establish a buffer zone "deep" into Gaza after the war. The Times of Israel (a)
• In a press briefing following the Kan report on Friday, John Kirby, the White House's National Security Council spokesman, reiterated once again that the US opposes reductions in the territory of Gaza. "We don’t support any reduction of the geographic limits of Gaza… Gaza must remain Palestinian land, and cannot be reduced," Kirby said. The Times of Israel (b)
• According to a Reuters report, citing a number of officials, Israel has notified several Arab countries that it intends to carve out a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gaza's border. Reuters says the alleged plans were conveyed to Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates — which normalized ties with Israel in 2020 — alongside Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Israel narrative:

• The Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, in addition to attacks before and since, demonstrate to Israel that Hamas is only about one thing: seeking to rain death and destruction on Israel. Israel cannot rest until it is once again a safe haven for Jews and the threat from Hamas is completely eradicated.
  Jerusalem Post (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-establishment narrative:

• The US reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself, but as an ally, it expects Israel to conduct itself in a certain way, including making additional efforts to protect civilians and avoid further displacement of people from their homes. There must also be no reduction of Gaza's territory.
  BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Palestine narrative:

• Since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, all that pundits and world leaders can seem to talk about is security and the right to defend one's self. However, it is only ever Israel's security and right to defend itself that's ever discussed. What about the Palestinians? They also have a right to security, particularly in light of decades of oppression and occupation.
  Middle East Eye

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 50% chance that Israel will lift the blockade on electricity, food, gasoline, and medicine in Gaza by February 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)