The Irish Times view on Israel's offensive: this war must end now
In the early hours of Friday morning, the country's security cabinet decided to order a new assault on Gaza City, the last major urban area in the strip. The first stage of the operation will see the forced expulsion southward of the city's 800,000 inhabitants, many of whom had already been displaced. This will be completed by the symbolically important date of October 7th, the second anniversary of the murderous Hamas attack that began the current conflict. Israeli defence experts estimate the subsequent 'mopping up' of remaining Hamas units could take a year or more.
Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his government took their decision despite the opposition of military leaders and opinion polls showing a clear majority of Israelis want to see a ceasefire and the release of the hostages held by Hamas. As has been the case since the early stages of the war, Netanyahu's own political survival is entwined with the continuation of hostilities.
Many Israelis fear this new offensive will lead to the deaths of the 20 remaining hostages held by Hamas, most of whom are believed to be in and around Gaza City. The prospect of an 'endless war' and occupation of the territory will be unappealing even to many who are unconcerned by Palestinian suffering. Despite the deep divisions in his country, however, Netanyahu appears determined to press on, possibly under pressure from far-right members of his government who wish to see the Palestinian population forced out and replaced by Israeli settlements.
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Whatever the intention, the result, inevitably, will be further harrowing scenes of death and immiseration across Gaza.
The decision has already sparked international condemnation, including from some of Israel's closest allies. The German government has suspended shipment of any arms that might be used in Gaza – an unprecedented move. Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and Qatar continue to work on a framework that would see a release of hostages and an end to the war, although there is little expectation of that bearing fruit any time soon. If carried out, this new offensive will only deepen Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe.
The deliberate infliction of such suffering on a civilian population through forced displacement, siege tactics and mass hunger adds considerable weight to accusations of war crimes. The international community cannot ignore its own responsibility. A stronger, more coordinated response is required to prevent further atrocities and bring an end to a war that has already gone on far too long.
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Irish Examiner
9 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Woman wearing Palestine Action t-shirt arrested in Belfast
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The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My girl, 10, is still traumatised by Hamas hostage hell… Starmer's insane plan to recognise Palestine EMBOLDENS thugs
SIR Keir Starmer's plan to recognise Palestine as a state is "insane", the father of hostage Emily Hand has blasted. Embattled father Thomas, who said he and his young daughter will forever be traumatised by October 7, warned it will only serve to "embolden" Hamas. 6 Thomas said daughter Emily is now 'doing amazing' after her ordeal Credit: Supplied 6 Emily was reunited with her dad after 50 days in captivity Credit: Reuters 6 The youngster was snatched by Hamas while on a sleepover at her friend's house He said they constantly now live in fear of a repeat of the atrocity - and warned Britain recognising Palestine as a state is a "carrot" and "reward" for the evil terror group. Brave Thomas told The Sun: "I am shocked. Previous governments have agreed that it would not be in the best interests of peace. "It's rewarding terrorist actions. It's absolutely insane." Sir Keir last week outlined the government's route to recognising Palestine as a state last week. The PM vowed the UK would act by the end of September - unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows humanitarian aid into Gaza, halts West Bank annexation plans, and commits to serious peace talks. But Donald Trump, political rivals of the Labour leader and the families of hostages are among the chorus of voices slapping down the move. Thomas, 65, added: "All the pressure is on Israel - you must do this or the UK will recognise a Palestinian state. "That's like a stick to us, but it's like a carrot to them. [They think] let's carry on with this war. "They were two days to a peace deal and then [they] came out with this statement and that peace deal went off the table. "It emboldens them. It reinforces them. It's a very shameful decision." Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas Fighting back tears, Thomas insisted not enough is being done to bring back the remaining 50 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. He believes Sir Keir's plan could throw their chances of rescue into jeopardy. And Thomas said he and daughter Emily - who spent 50 days in Hamas' clutches - fear Hamas could launch a similar attack to October 7. Emily, 10, and her dad are among countless innocents who have been left permanently scarred by the unspeakable horror they were put through that day. But despite the hell they suffered, Thomas believes his family were among the "lucky" ones. He said: "I had my eight-year-old daughter kidnapped for 50 days, the mother of my two older children murdered. We got away lightly. "One of my best friends - Leanne Sharabi - and her two teenage kids, executed. "They [Hamas] had too many hostages that day, so the orders went out to kill them. Don't take anymore back, just kill them. "There were whole families wiped out. "Crazy statements, but only losing my ex-wife and I thought I'd lost my daughter, I consider it lucky. Crazy statements." Will there be a peace deal? AS of August 2025, a lasting Israel-Hamas peace deal hangs in the balance. A January 19 ceasefire saw 25 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners freed, but collapsed by March 18 after Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 in Gaza. July's US-backed 60-day truce push aimed to free remaining hostages and spark permanent talks, but stalled in Cairo. Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal; Israel insists on Hamas disarming. With 90 Palestinians killed in recent strikes and both sides dug in—Israel on security, Hamas on ending the war—talks teeter. Mediators see glimmers of hope, but mistrust and clashing red lines keep peace elusive. Dublin-born Thomas - who grew up in London - travelled to Israel three decades ago to volunteer on a kibbutz near Gaza. He had two children with wife Narkis before they split and then had Emily with new partner Liat, who died of breast cancer when Emily was two. Narkis, 52, was killed on October 7 when 400 Hamas thugs rampaged through the Be'eri kibbutz. Emily was on a sleepover at a pal's home when she was snatched and Thomas survived by barricading himself inside a safe room for 19 hours. The youngster - who was rushed from house-to-house by Hamas fighters during gun battles with Israeli troops - turned nine while in Gaza before her release. She ran into her dad's open arms after 50 days in captivity traumatised and broken. Now 10-years-old, Thomas said Emily will forever be affected by her ordeal - and that he can no longer shield her from the inhumanity hostages are still suffering. Last week, warped Hamas released harrowing footage of two starved, pale and broken hostages - Evyatar David, 24, and Rom Braslavski, 21. 6 Thomas Hand has hit out at Sire Keir Starmer's proposal to recognise the Palestinian state Credit: Louis Wood - Commissioned by The Sun. 6 Israeli hostage Evyatar David looking weak and malnourished Credit: AFP 6 Rom Braslavski, 21, was seen in tears as he's held captive by Hamas terrorists "At first I obviously totally protected her from seeing stuff like that," Thomas said. "But more over time she wanted to see. She almost has to see. "Every child in the country knows what's going on. Some of them were involved in it. "Emily wants to see how our hostage are doing, surviving." After her release, Emily's weight had crashed, her clothes and hair were matted and filthy and she was unable to speak in more than a whisper. But Thomas told how Emily is now "doing amazing" and that they are doing everything they can to "bring her back to a normal childhood". He added: "She's having fun, surfing loads and horse riding. "She's put on her weight, she's out in the sun, she's getting tanned. She's doing childish, girly things again. "But she will always be that little bit more mature than all her friends the same age. "She's been through something no child, no human being, should ever be through." It comes as Israel said Friday it will intensify the 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City - renewing international calls for an end to the conflict. It will likely require mobilising thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Israeli army kills Palestinians collecting aid, says Gaza civil defence agency
Gaza 's civil defence agency has said at least 10 people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza. It comes after, early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu remained defiant over the decision. READ MORE In a post on social media late on Friday, Mr Netanyahu said 'we are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas'. Mr Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. [ Opinion: Why has Gazans' hunger attained the status of 'moral crisis' when Israel's genocidal slaughter did not? Opens in new window ] The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel's plans to expand military control over the enclave have pushed Germany to curb arms exports to Israel, a historically fraught step for Berlin driven by a growing public outcry. Conservative chancellor Friedrich Merz, hitherto a staunchly pro-Israel leader, made the announcement on Friday, arguing that Israel's actions would not achieve its stated war goals of eliminating Hamas militants or bringing Israeli hostages home. The UN Security Council announced an emergency meeting on Israel's plans was rescheduled to Sunday after originally being scheduled to take place on Saturday. The UN Mission of Panama, which holds the council presidency this month, provided no details, but Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath and Israel is certain to want to speak at the meeting. The efforts for a new ceasefire have the backing of major Arab Gulf monarchies, according to two officials who spoke to AP anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions. One is involved directly in the deliberations and the second was briefed on the efforts. The monarchies are concerned about further regional destabilisation if Israel fully reoccupies Gaza, the officials said. A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to brief the media, said the group has yet to receive details on the latest efforts to revive ceasefire talks. The war was triggered on October 7th, 2023, when Hamas's attack on Israel killed 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent attack on Gaza has killed more than 60,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. [ As an Irish Jew my Star of David is no longer a badge of pride but a mark of shame Opens in new window ] Meanwhile, Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israel's Mossad spy agency in recent months, the judiciary said on Saturday, warning that they will face no leniency and will be made an example of. On Wednesday, Iran executed a nuclear scientist named Rouzbeh Vadi, who was convicted of spying for Israel and passing on information on another nuclear scientist killed in Israel's air strikes on Iran in June, state media reported. Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangiri told reporters in Tehran on Saturday that charges against some of the 20 suspects arrested had been dropped and they were released. He did not give a number. 'The judiciary will show no leniency toward spies and agents of the Zionist regime, and with firm rulings, will make an example of them all,' Mr Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months. Israel carried out 12 days of air strikes on Iran in June, targeting Iran's top generals, nuclear scientists, nuclear installations, as well as residential neighbourhoods. Iran responded with barrages of missiles and drones on Israel. Rights group HRANA reported 1,190 Iranian deaths during the 12-day Israeli attacks, including 436 civilians and 435 security personnel. Israel said 28 were killed in Iran's retaliatory attack. – Guardian/Reuters
