This week, several military and political events have made the Israel-Palestine situation more complicated. These developments are happening in Gaza, inside Israel’s own politics, and on the border with Syria. As the Israeli army continues its operation in southern Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has caused a new political crisis at home by asking for an official pardon for his corruption charges, which led to immediate public anger.
In Gaza, the Israeli military has focused its recent actions on the Rafah area. They say they have killed more than forty Palestinian fighters and destroyed dozens of tunnel entrances in the past week. However, a Hamas official, Hosam Badran, said that between sixty and eighty of their fighters are currently trapped in these tunnels. He stated they would not surrender. Meanwhile, health officials in Gaza report that the total number of deaths in the conflict has now passed 70,000. This figure is generally seen as reliable by international groups. In a separate event, an Israeli drone strike in Khan Younis killed two people who were said to have crossed a security fence.
Inside Israel, Netanyahu’s request for a pardon from President Isaac Herzog has caused strong criticism. Many people see it as an unfair attempt to avoid legal responsibility. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the president’s home on Sunday. A leading activist, Shikma Bressler, said Netanyahu wants his trial cancelled "without taking any responsibility" for damaging the country. This situation could weaken Netanyahu’s government, which is already unstable.
At the same time, fighting has increased on Israel’s northern border with Syria. Early on Friday, Israeli soldiers entered the Syrian town of Beit Jinn. The army said they wanted to capture three Syrians connected to an armed group. The operation led to clashes with local people and Israeli airstrikes. Syrian sources say at least thirteen people, including two children, were killed. Six Israeli soldiers were hurt. This marks a serious increase in violence across this border.
Together, these events show a conflict that is growing worse in several ways. The focus on tunnels in Gaza suggests a long and difficult urban war with a major human cost. Netanyahu’s legal problems reveal deep divisions in Israeli society, which could harm the country’s ability to govern during a security crisis. Finally, military action inside Syria risks bringing other regional forces into the conflict. There is no clear path to peace as the fighting continues and political unity breaks down.