Israel officially advises against war: Operation 'Iron Swords' replaced by 'War of Rebirth'

The Israeli government on Sunday changed the official name of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip from Operation Iron Swords to the War of Renaissance. A ceasefire has been in place in the conflict since October 10.

The name was changed at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose idea was supported by the vast majority of ministers.

The prime minister argued that the change was intended to show that the war was a “milestone in the process of rebirth of the Israeli state.”

Netanyahu had already wanted to change the name of the war, proposing, among other things, renaming it the Gaza War or the Simchat Torah War, after the Jewish holiday on which the Hamas attack occurred on October 7, 2023.

The formal name change will cost 2 million shekels (approx. PLN 2.2 million), Kan reported.

According to Netanyahu's critics, the name change is part of the prime minister's efforts to avoid any responsibility for the government's failures before and after the Hamas attack, commented the Times of Israel website.

The fighting was stopped, but… not for long

The Israeli army said on Sunday afternoon that it had launched a new wave of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the southern Gaza Strip. In the morning, Israeli soldiers in the area were fired upon. Authorities in Jerusalem attributed the attack to Hamas and accused it of violating the truce.

Hamas denies these accusationsdenies responsibility for the attack and claims to be observing the ceasefire that has been in place since October 10.

An Israeli army representative told the press that at least three incidents took place in the morning near the city of Rafah, during which Hamas fighters shot at soldiers on the Israeli side of the demarcation line adopted in the ceasefire.

The military and the Israeli government considered it a violation of the ceasefire and announced their response.

Immediately after the attack, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted airstrikes and artillery shelling of Hamas targets. According to the army, several tunnels and buildings used by terrorists were destroyed.

Times of Israel: More than 20 targets attacked.

Palestinian media reported that the air force also carried out airstrikes in the central and northern parts of the Gaza Strip. At least seven people were killed and many were injured, Al-Jazeera reported.

These are the most serious clashes since the ceasefire. In accordance with the agreement, Israeli troops withdrew to the so-called yellow line and currently control about half of the Gaza Strip.

However, the Palestinian side reported deadly attacks almost every day. According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, 35 Palestinians had been killed as of Sunday. The army responded that these people were approaching Israeli positions and posed a threat.

According to some Israeli media, Sunday's attacks in Rafah should be linked to the ongoing clashes between Hamas and other armed groups inside the Gaza Strip since the conclusion of the ceasefire. Hamas said it has since killed dozens of “gang” members and “Israeli collaborators.”

During the war, some clan structures or armed groups tried to take control of parts of the Gaza Strip. According to the media, some of them were supported by Israel.

When asked by journalists on Sunday about reports that Israel is arming clans hostile to Hamas, an Israeli military officer replied that “there is an idea to create an alternative to Hamas”; however, he did not provide further details.

Military section of humanitarian aid “until further notice”

The Israeli government ordered the army to suspend deliveries of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip “until further notice” after earlier firing on Israeli soldiers in the territory, the Haaretz daily website reported on Sunday.

Shelling occurred in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Sunday morning, and authorities in Jerusalem attributed the attack to Hamas.

An Israeli army representative told the press that there were at least three incidents during which members of the Hamas terrorist organization shot at soldiers on the Israeli side of the demarcation line adopted in the ceasefire.

From Jerusalem Jerzy Adamiak (PAP)

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