Jerusalem:

Residents and medics reported intensified Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the conflict would likely persist for many months. This assertion indicates a sustained offensive that has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and extensive destruction in Gaza. Additionally, Netanyahu's commitment to reestablish Israeli control over the enclave's border with Egypt introduces fresh uncertainties regarding the feasibility of a future two-state solution.

The Israeli military announced its decision to release some of the reservists who were mobilized for combat against Hamas in Gaza. This move declared on Sunday, is aimed at supporting the country's economy as it braces for an extended period of conflict. Al-Maghazi and al-Bureij in the center of Gaza faced intense airstrikes, resulting in the tragic death of 10 individuals in a single house. The ongoing clashes between Israeli tanks and Hamas fighters prompted more residents to seek refuge in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Overnight, rockets launched from Gaza sped toward central Israel, triggering sirens across the central and southern regions of the country. Israeli media broadcasted footage of multiple interceptions, and fortunately, there were no reports of any direct hits. The armed wing of Hamas stated that the barrage was a response to what they referred to as "massacres against civilians" in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a senior figure in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, urged Palestinian residents of Gaza on Sunday to vacate the besieged enclave, suggesting that Israelis could then contribute to the region's development. Smotrich's remarks raise concerns in the Arab world. There is an apprehension that Israel aims to displace Palestinians from the land they envision for a future state, potentially echoing the mass dispossession that occurred during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Smotrich, whose hard-right Religious Zionism party garners support from Israel's settler community, has previously expressed similar views, putting him in disagreement with the United States, Israel's key ally. However, it's important to note that his views do not align with the official government position, which asserts that Gazans will have the opportunity to return to their homes after the ongoing war against the Islamist movement Hamas, currently approaching its fourth month. Smotrich's party, instrumental in securing Netanyahu's sixth term as prime minister about a year ago, has witnessed a decline in approval ratings since the commencement of the conflict.

In his Sunday address, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas categorically opposed any initiatives aiming to force Palestinians out of their homes, emphasizing, "We will not permit displacement, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank."
In another significant development, Israel's foreign minister announced on Sunday that Israel is ready to allow ships to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip promptly. The proposal includes establishing a sea corridor from Cyprus, with security inspections conducted in the Cypriot port of Larnaca before transporting cargo to Gaza, bypassing Egypt and Israel. If implemented, this would be the first relaxation of the Israeli naval blockade imposed on Gaza in 2007 following the takeover by Hamas militants.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed readiness for the immediate initiation of the Mediterranean corridor, stating that countries such as Britain, France, Greece, and the Netherlands possess vessels capable of directly reaching Gaza's shores. Gaza lacks a deep-water port, and Cohen implied an expectation for these countries to deliver aid directly to Gaza instead of using Israeli ports, particularly Ashdod. He clarified that the equipment would not be routed through Ashdod or Israel, emphasizing the goal of disengagement while maintaining security control.