Geopolitical Tensions Escalate in Gaza Conflict

Hamas' acting Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya stated that no exchange of hostages for prisoners with Israel will occur until the war in Gaza ends, amid stalled truce negotiations and a U.S. veto of a U.N. Security Council ceasefire resolution. Concurrently, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly called for the immediate release of hostages in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized U.S. opposition to Israel's military strategy, revealing that President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken warned of withholding military aid if Israel continued with its planned Gaza offensive. Despite U.S. reservations, Israel conducted operations, including attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, with Netanyahu arguing that U.S. estimates of civilian casualties in Rafah were overstated. These developments underscore the geopolitical tensions affecting the ongoing Gaza conflict.