Description: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s support to a militant group called the Popular Forces which is led by Yasser Abu Shabab and has confirmed ties with ISIS. The group is mostly active in Rafah and aims at undermining Hamas and crippling its territorial claims in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu and Trump had a phone call on 10 Jun, where they mostly discussed Iran’s nuclear program but also reportedly Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel also conducted naval strikes on Yemeni’s ports controlled by the Houthis on 09 Jun which further widened the specter of the war as the Houthis are Iranian proxy group supporting the independence of Palestine. Israel’s Security Cabinet is expected to meet on 11 Jun discussing the sanctioning of far – right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich by Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Norway as well as potential extension of the Gaza offensive and the situation with the humanitarian aid.
Impact: International pressure continues to mount around Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as more officials end up under western sponsored sanctions. The emergence and support of a new militant group supported by Israel’s government, further complicates the devastating humanitarian and security crisis on the ground as clashes are expected in the near future between Hamas and the Popular Forces. Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip where the UN warned of a growing famine crisis. With the number of factors and variables surrounding the war in Gaza growing by the day, Israel’s offensive is expected to continue in the near future depending on the progress mediating countries are materializing through the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.