Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari has stated that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza may extend throughout 2024. In a New Year's Eve press briefing, Hagari outlined the strategic preparations being made by the IDF to manage forces, address reserve considerations, assess economic impacts, refresh troops, and sustain combat training processes.
Hagari further mentioned that certain reservists, initially called for duty in the Gaza conflict, will return to their families and jobs in the coming week. These adjustments are part of the IDF's comprehensive planning to ensure readiness for the continued challenges and warfare anticipated throughout the year.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously asserted that the conflict would persist for "many more months," with Israel aiming to assume control of the Gaza side of the border with Egypt.
In related developments, tens of thousands of people participated in a protest in Istanbul against Israel's actions in Gaza and the killing of Turkish soldiers by outlawed Kurdish militants in Iraq. The demonstration, organized by a foundation that includes Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, involved protesters waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, at the Vatican, Pope Francis acknowledged 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering. During his traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for the tormented Ukrainian people, as well as the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people, and others affected by armed conflicts.
Additionally, there are reports that Britain is considering airstrikes on Houthi rebels following a US naval operation that sank three boats targeting a container ship in the Red Sea. Grant Shapps, the UK's defense secretary, emphasized the government's commitment to taking direct action to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Shapps stated that the UK, along with the US, is preparing a joint statement to issue a final warning to the Houthi group, emphasizing the determination to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks.