Israel's Stand: Security Choices and Ceasefire Challenges

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made it clear that Israel calls the shots when it comes to its security. He stated this before a meeting with U. S. Vice President JD Vance. This meeting was to talk about the shaky ceasefire deal in Gaza. Netanyahu wanted to ease worries that an international security team in Gaza might limit Israel's ability to act against future threats. Vance, on the other hand, acknowledged the tough road ahead. He had to balance optimism with the reality of the challenges. He mentioned the need to disarm Hamas and rebuild Gaza, a task he described as very tough. Despite this, he felt optimistic about the progress made so far. Meanwhile, Israel announced that U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would visit to meet with Netanyahu. This visit is seen as a sign of continued U. S. involvement in the region. The ceasefire agreement has led to the return of some hostage remains. Since the ceasefire started, 15 hostages' remains have been returned to Israel, with 13 still to be recovered. In Gaza, the Health Ministry reported that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians, bringing the total to 195. Only 57 of these have been identified by their families. Funeral prayers were held for Palestinians whose bodies were returned. Mourners gathered outside the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. A senior health official in Gaza noted evidence of torture on some bodies and called for an investigation. A Palestinian nongovernmental organization reported an armed takeover of one of its facilities in Gaza. The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme said an armed group seized the building, expelled guards, and moved in their families. The organization called for immediate action to return the facility. Israelis were set to bid farewell to a Thai hostage killed on Oct. 7, 2023. Sonthaya Oakkharasri's body was returned last weekend and was to be repatriated to Thailand. He was described as a devoted father and farmer who dreamed of establishing his own farm. The Israel-Hamas war has had a devastating toll. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 68, 000 Palestinians have been killed. The ministry's count is seen as generally reliable by U. N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed these numbers without providing its own toll.