Neither wants peace: Jemima says Netanyahu 'empowered' Hamas, demands condemnation of both

Prominent screenwriter and producer Jemima Khan has recently made statements on social media, expressing her perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. In a tweet, she suggested that both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas, share responsibility for undermining peace in Palestine.

In a tweet, Jemima made several claims regarding Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's alleged historical support for Hamas. She cited a 2019 statement attributed to Netanyahu, in which he was reported to have said, "Those who want to thwart the possibility of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas and the transfer of money to Hamas." Khan also referenced former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's 2019 statement, suggesting that Netanyahu's strategy was to maintain the viability of Hamas, even at the cost of the safety of Israeli citizens in the southern regions. Barak argued that this approach made it easier to convince Israelis that there were no suitable partners for peace negotiations.

Additionally, Khan pointed to the comments of Yuval Diskin, the former head of Shin Bet, from 2013. According to Diskin, Netanyahu had contributed to the strengthening of Hamas throughout his tenure as prime minister

Israeli airstrikes hit a densely populated refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 50 Palestinians as medics struggled to treat the casualties in the enclave where food, fuel and basic supplies are running scarce. The health ministry in Gaza said Israeli air and artillery bombardment has now killed more than 8,500 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children.

The Israeli military said 11 soldiers were also killed in fighting in Gaza on Tuesday, the biggest one-day loss for the armed forces since Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7.

Israel sent its forces into Gaza following weeks of air bombardments in retaliation for the attack, and an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement claimed the airstrikes on Jabalia, Gaza's largest refugee camp, had killed Ibrahim Biari, a Hamas commander it said was "pivotal" in the planning and execution of the assault.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied any senior commander was in the camp, and called the claim an Israeli pretext for killing civilians. Palestinian health officials said at least 50 Palestinians were killed and 150 wounded. A Hamas statement said there were 400 dead and injured in Jabalia, which houses families of refugees from wars with Israel dating back to 1948.

Jemima Khan's statements emphasize her commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. While her opinions on Netanyahu and Hamas have ignited conversations, they also underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict and working towards a peaceful coexistence in the region.

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