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Why Israel’s push into southern Gaza could be a ‘real hell of a fight’ on November 29, 2023 at 12:00 am

Published

3 years ago

November 29, 2023

Once a temporary truce ends between Israel and Hamas, fighting is expected to enter the deadliest phase of the war, when Israeli troops confront the main Hamas force in southern Gaza.

Israeli troops inside of Gaza for about a month have largely cemented control over the northern half of the coastal strip, including the urban center of Gaza City, and will next focus on the south, where 1.7 million Palestinian civilians are sequestered.

But southern Gaza is also currently home to the bulk of Hamas, most of which is still intact after nearly two months of war. Many Hamas fighters fled Gaza City and other strongholds in the north to hide down south.

If Israel wants to destroy Hamas, as per its stated goal, that will require taking the fight south — where they will risk a high rate of civilian casualties and increased pressure for a cease-fire, which could magnify depending on how long the ongoing truce extends and how many hostages are released.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged “there is no place in Gaza that we will not reach,” brushing aside any calls to halt the campaign to annihilate Hamas for launching a deadly Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people.

“There is no hiding, no shelter, no refuge for the murderers of Hamas,” Netanyahu said earlier this month.

At the moment, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it is committed to securing the release of the hostages during a temporary truce while preparing for the next stage of the war.

“We are determined to return to the battlefield and deepen our achievements,” said IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari at a Monday press briefing.

Israel and Hamas are continuing to exchange hostages and prisoners as part of the temporary cease-fire agreement, which is also allowing for a much-needed surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The U.S. is working on extending the truce to get more hostages out of Gaza, which could end up taking more than a week if the current agreement of 10 detainees per day stays in place. Hamas took around 240 hostages when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and about 70 people have been released in the past five days.

John Hannah, a senior defense fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, said Israel will struggle to make the case for a military operation in the south after a drawn-out cease-fire and the release of all the hostages. But he noted that public pressure was dependent on changing variables.

“How long can Hamas keep dribbling out hostages? At what point in time does the momentum for a cease-fire build up sufficient international pressure on Israel to stand down?” Hannah said.

There are also crucial questions about how Israeli forces conduct the next phase of the war.

The Biden administration told reporters this week that Israel must take extra precautions in the south and should avoid the same trappings of the fighting in the north, which has killed more than 14,000 people so far, many of them women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is run by Hamas.

U.S. officials are pushing Israel to create “areas of deconfliction” in southern Gaza, which would include United Nations shelters and sites that would be kept out of the fighting.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that President Biden “doesn’t want to see any more innocent civilians killed or wounded as a result of the fighting in Gaza.”

“Not one. The right number of civilian casualties is zero,” Kirby said. “Each and every one of those data points is a grieving family, and the president understands that.”

“That’s why we’re going to continue to urge our Israeli counterparts as they go back,” Kirby added, “that they do it in the most discrete, deliberate, careful, cautious way possible.”

Israel may force civilians into Muwasi, a small strip of land on the coast of southern Gaza. But the entire coastal enclave of Gaza is just 141 square miles, and the even smaller block of territory in the south is crowded with nearly two million people.

Robert Sanders, a professor of national security at the University of New Haven, expressed skepticism of whether Israel can safely manage to separate Hamas and civilians inside such a small zone of territory.

“How do these people now get supported in all of the ways that human beings need to be supported when you push them into this so-called safer zone?” Sanders said.

Sanders argued that if Israel heads south, it should conduct an operation that is more controlled and “more infantry intensive,” cautioning against the airstrikes that pummeled northern Gaza for weeks ahead of the ground invasion.

“If they go into the south the way they went into the north, the ire of the world will just increase,” said Sanders. “I don’t think the world will accept that type of attack in the south, where the Israelis have told the people to go.”

Hannah, from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, said Israel must go south to dismantle Hamas, where he believes most of the militant group’s leaders and forces are. But he questioned if it was feasible to cram people into a tiny humanitarian zone, and he said the fighting could get more intense in an urban environment with crowds of civilians.

“It’s going to be a real hell of a fight,” he said. “It’ll make the north look now like a walk in the park.”

After Israel entered northern Gaza in late October, troops quickly established control over that half of the territory. The fighting in northern Gaza and inside of Gaza City has been brutal, but Hamas fighters have so far only lost a small part of their forces and command structure, based on public death counts.

Before the war, Hamas had a fighting force of between 30,000 and 40,000 fighters, and while Israel appears to have taken out some high-level officials and command structures, most of Hamas is still operating.

Two-thirds of the more than 14,000 killed in Gaza have been women and children, according to the United Nations, and even the U.S. has acknowledged the heavy toll on civilians in the strip.

That means many seasoned fighters have likely bunkered in the south, including Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas official in Gaza.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the truce has also given Hamas the ability to “retool” and reconfigure its operations, which he called a “hard trade-off” to get hostages home.

“But the Israeli government has been prepared to accept that risk because of the benefit they’re getting, which are these incredible images of people being reunited with their families, the humanity of it, the sense of accomplishment of that,” Sullivan told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Israel has lost about 77 IDF soldiers in the Gaza operation so far. Troops may suffer more losses in the south, especially if the IDF limits the operation to protect civilians.

Jerry Meyerle, the principal research scientist for plans and warfighting at the Center for Naval Analyses, said the fighting in southern Gaza would not be easy, but he explained U.S. forces have faced similar challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

“We learned a lot of lessons over the years,” he said of U.S. operations. “A lot of those lessons have migrated over to the Israeli Defense Forces, and I think that they’re employing a lot of those, those lessons and tactics, in Gaza. So it’s much more of a discriminant military operation in Gaza than I think people will realize or understand.”

But Gaza is among the densest territories in the world and poses unique challenges, Meyerle added.

“They’re facing challenges there I don’t think any other military has,” he said. “The more the population gets jammed up in southern Gaza, it just snowballs and becomes more and more difficult.”

Once a temporary truce ends between Israel and Hamas, fighting is expected to enter the deadliest phase of the war, when Israeli troops confront the main Hamas force in southern Gaza. Israeli troops inside of Gaza for about a month have largely cemented control over the northern half of the coastal strip, including the urban…

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GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT RETURNS FOR ITS 5TH EDITION AT THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT – HOUSE OF LORDS, PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theme: “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation”

London, United Kingdom — The Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) is officially back for its landmark 5th Edition, continuing its legacy as one of the leading international platforms driving sustainable development, climate action, ethical investment, innovation, and global collaboration.

Convened annually at the prestigious British Parliament, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, by Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto, the Summit has, over the last four years, successfully fostered international dialogue and partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of global sustainability goals, the establishment of sustainability-focused ministries, departments and policy structures across national and subnational governments, and the attraction of major investors into sustainable development projects, corporations and emerging economies.

This year’s summit, themed “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation,” will explore how emerging technologies, responsible leadership, sustainable finance, innovation, and global partnerships can shape a more inclusive, resilient and environmentally conscious future.

The 5th Edition promises to be the most impactful yet, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, investors, academics, innovators, climate experts and youth leaders from across the globe to discuss actionable solutions toward achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Among the distinguished speakers, delegates and honorees already lined up for the Summit are:

• His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq — Executive Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

• His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu — Executive Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria

• Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano — Former Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Former Foreign Minister of Mexico

• Lord Marvin Rees, Baron Rees of Easton OBE — Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom

• Hon. Neema K. Lugangira — Secretary-General of Women Political Leaders (WPL), Brussels and Former Member of Parliament

• Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of the Republic of Namibia

• His Excellency Nangolo Mbumba — Former President of Namibia

• Former President of Tanzania

• Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq — First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairperson of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum

• Your Excellency Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON — Executive Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the Northwest Governors Forum, Nigeria

• Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma — Governor of Khomas Region, Namibia

• H.E. Mr. Veiccoh Nghiwete — High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the United Kingdom

• Her Excellency Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka — High Commissioner of Zambia to the United Kingdom

• Ms. Danielle Newman — Partner Lead, ICT, World Economic Forum

• Leanne Elliott Young — Co-founder, Institute of Digital Fashion & CommuneEast

• Ms. Chloe Russell — Producer & Presenter, Art, Science and Nature

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger — University of Cambridge & University of Waterloo

• Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington — IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)

• Professor Payam Akhavan — Massey College, University of Toronto

• Mr. Mallai C. E. Sathya — President, Dravida Vetri Kazhagam and International Movement for Tamil Culture Asia

The Summit will feature high-level panel discussions, strategic investment conversations, sustainability awards, policy dialogues, innovation showcases, youth engagement sessions and international networking opportunities focused on climate resilience, ethical financing, food-water-energy sustainability, circular economy, artificial intelligence, diplomacy and sustainable development.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, Convener Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto noted:

“As the world rapidly evolves through artificial intelligence and technological innovation, we must ensure that sustainability remains people-centered, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive. The Global Sustainability Summit continues to serve as a bridge connecting governments, institutions, innovators and investors to accelerate practical sustainability solutions globally. Our fifth edition is not only a celebration of progress made over the years, but also a renewed call for global collaboration and actionable impact toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero ambitions.”

The Global Sustainability Summit continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative partnerships and sustainable global progress, reinforcing the urgent need for collective action toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

More announcements regarding additional speakers, partners and summit activities will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

News

US May Completely Cut Income Tax Due to Tariff Revenue

Published

6 months ago

November 30, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.

What Trump Is Saying

Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.

How Taxes Work Now

Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.

Questions From Experts

Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.

What Congress Must Do

The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.

What It Means Right Now

For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.

News

Epstein Files to Be Declassified After Trump Order

Published

6 months ago

November 20, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.

The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.

“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”

U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.

Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.

The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.

Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.

Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.

As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.