Aid groups warn of mass starvation in Gaza, urge ceasefire and open crossings
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Al Arabiya
27 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Israel's top general warns of combat ‘without rest' unless hostages are freed
Israel's top general has warned that there will be no respite in fighting in Gaza if negotiations fail to quickly secure the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory. 'I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages,' said army chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, according to a military statement. 'If not, the combat will continue without rest,' he said, during remarks to officers inside Gaza on Friday. Footage released by the Israeli military showed Zamir meeting soldiers and officers in a command center. Of the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of them dead, according to the military. Palestinian armed groups this week released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and weak. Negotiations -- mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar -- to secure a ceasefire and their release broke down last month, and some in Israel have called for tougher military action. This comes against the backdrop of growing pressure -- both internationally and domestically, including from many of the hostages' families -- to resume efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly 22-month conflict. Aid agencies have meanwhile warned that Gaza's population is facing a catastrophic famine, triggered by Israeli restrictions on aid. Zamir nonetheless rejected these allegations out of hand. 'The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the [Israeli military], a moral army, of war crimes,' he said. 'The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas.' Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures. A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since ground troops were sent into Gaza, according to the military. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Israel army chief warns of combat ‘without rest' unless hostages are freed
JERUSALEM: Israel's top general has warned that there will be no respite in fighting in Gaza if negotiations fail to quickly secure the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.'I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages,' said army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to a military statement.'If not, the combat will continue without rest,' he said, during remarks to officers inside Gaza on released by the Israeli military showed Zamir meeting soldiers and officers in a command the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of them dead, according to the armed groups this week released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and – mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar – to secure a ceasefire and their release broke down last month, and some in Israel have called for tougher military comes against the backdrop of growing pressure – both internationally and domestically, including from many of the hostages' families – to resume efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly 22-month agencies have meanwhile warned that Gaza's population is facing a catastrophic famine, triggered by Israeli restrictions on nonetheless rejected these allegations out of hand.'The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF (military), a moral army, of war crimes,' he said.'The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas.'Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures.A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since ground troops were sent into Gaza, according to the campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas: Mediators Relayed ‘Discouraging' Israeli Response to Truce Proposal
A Hamas official said on Friday that Israel's response to the group's latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was 'discouraging,' casting further doubt on the prospect of a breakthrough in long-stalled truce talks. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said mediators had recently conveyed a verbal Israeli reply that maintained hardline positions rejected by the Palestinian faction. 'Israel is still insisting on enforcing the US-proposed aid mechanism, which Palestinians have already rejected, and on keeping its military positions inside the Gaza Strip,' the official said, adding that the response 'indicates there is no genuine intention to end the war.' A source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday that Israel had issued a reply on Wednesday to Hamas' latest amendments to a proposed deal involving a 60-day truce and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. After Hamas responded to the proposal, the United States and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Doha last week, suspending talks that had resumed on July 6. The breakdown was accompanied by a flurry of mutual accusations between Hamas, Washington, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a separate development, an Egyptian source familiar with the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat that the negotiations have been in crisis since the Israeli and US delegations left for consultations more than a week ago. 'Each side remains entrenched in its conditions, and none is showing flexibility that would suggest a breakthrough is near,' the source said, adding that Washington currently appears more focused on increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza than on reviving negotiations. 'Even if talks resume under pressure, Israel's intention to maintain its military presence in parts of the Strip suggests the negotiations may once again lead nowhere,' the source warned. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff visited an aid distribution center in Gaza on Friday, according to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who shared the news on X. The White House said Witkoff travelled to the enclave to inspect food delivery operations and finalize a plan to speed up humanitarian aid flows. Following their visit, the special envoy and ambassador will brief the president directly to secure approval of a final plan for distributing food and aid across the region, said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. US outlet Axios reported on Friday that President Donald Trump had said he was working on a plan to feed people in Gaza. On Thursday, Trump also urged Hamas to surrender, describing it as the fastest way to end the crisis.
