Netanyahu's bold move: Israeli forces claim buffer zone in Syria
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that Israeli troops would occupy a buffer zone in Syria "for the foreseeable future." This marks the first occurrence of an incumbent Israeli leader advancing so far into Syrian territory.
The decision to occupy the buffer zone has sparked a wave of criticism. Opponents accuse Israel of breaching the 1974 ceasefire and exploiting the turmoil in Syria to annex new territories.
In addition to conducting military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel has resolved to seize further areas in Syria.
According to Palestinian doctors, the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least eight family members, including women and children. The international organisation Médecins Sans Frontières reported the closure of the emergency room in southern Gaza due to the threat posed by Israeli military actions.
Background of the conflict
Israel commenced military operations in the Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, in which over 1,200 people were killed and 250 were abducted. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip over the past 14 months have resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, with more than half being women and children.
