Netanyahu cares for nothing
He doesn't care that Israeli hostages are dying. If he did, he'd declare a ceasefire to allow some to be exchanged, the only way that large numbers of hostages have been recovered in this war to date.
He doesn't care that three-quarters of Israelis want an end to the war to allow the remaining hostages to be freed, according to a Channel 12 poll last month.
He doesn't care that more Israeli soldiers will die, in addition to the 454 killed so far in ground operations under his command since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.
If he did, he'd heed the warning of the Israeli army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, who last week said that the prime minister's stated intention to occupy Gaza would 'place a heavy burden on, and lead to the erosion of, both the reserve and compulsory service soldiers', according to Channel 12. As well as 'significantly endanger the lives of the hostages', Zamir reportedly said.
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Netanyahu doesn't care that every one of his previous military operations which he'd pledged would 'eliminate' Hamas has failed to meet this objective. Or that his stated objective of elimination is unachievable. If he did, he'd declare a realistic aim instead. Such as degrading Hamas to the point where it can no longer attack Israel, a mission Israel's forces already have accomplished.
As 600 of Israel's former security officials, generals and spy chiefs wrote in an open letter to Trump last week: 'It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.'
Netanyahu doesn't care that most of the people of his vital ally, the United States, have turned against Israel as a result of his atrocities in Gaza, according to a Pew Research Center poll in March. Or that 78 per cent of Americans want an immediate ceasefire, according to an Economist/YouGov poll last week.
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Sydney Morning Herald
14 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Gunmen disguised as Gaza aid workers ‘eliminated' in drone strike, Israel says
In November, an Israeli strike killed five people, including a World Central Kitchen worker who Israel said was part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity said at the time that it was unaware the employee had any connection to the attack. In March, 15 Palestinian medics were killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, their bodies and the mangled ambulances later found buried in a mass grave, apparently ploughed over by Israeli military bulldozers. Those killed were eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gaza's Civil Defence emergency unit and a staff member from UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. An Israeli investigation into the killings found a chain of 'professional failures' and a deputy commander who was first to open fire was sacked. The shootings triggered outrage, with some calling it a war crime. Medical workers have special protection under international humanitarian law. Israeli officials have said Hamas militants use civilians and hospitals as cover. They have also accused Hamas of siphoning off aid to support its rule in the territory. The UN denies that the looting of aid is systematic. Loading There has also been a global outcry over Israel's killing of a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and five other journalists in strike on Sunday. Israel's military said Sharif had led a Hamas cell – an allegation that Al Jazeera and Sharif previously dismissed as baseless. The Committee to Protect Journalists and others described the killing as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted that ceasefire efforts in Gaza were now focused on a comprehensive deal that would release the remaining hostages all at once, rather than in phases. Arab officials told The Associated Press last week that mediators Egypt and Qatar were preparing a new framework for a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages in one go in return for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Loading The long-running indirect talks appeared to break down last month. But a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Tuesday, Egypt's state-run Qahera news channel reported, a sign that efforts have not been abandoned after 22 months of war. Israel has threatened to widen its military offensive against Hamas to the areas of Gaza that it does not yet control, and where most of the territory's 2 million residents have sought refuge. Those plans have sparked international condemnation and criticism within Israel, and could be intended to raise pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire. The militants still hold 50 hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war. Israel believes about 20 of them are alive. In an interview with Israel's i24 News network broadcast, Netanyahu was asked if the window had closed on a partial ceasefire deal. 'I think it's behind us,' Netanyahu said. 'We tried, we made all kinds of attempts, we went through a lot, but it turned out that they were just misleading us.' 'I want all of them,' he said of the hostages. 'The release of all the hostages, both alive and dead — that's the stage we're at.' Netanyahu said Israel's demands, however, had not changed and that the war would end only when all hostages were returned and Hamas has surrendered. He has said that even then, Israel will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Hamas has long called for a comprehensive deal but says it will only release the remaining hostages in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The militant group has refused to lay down its arms, as Israel has demanded. Loading The United Nations on Tuesday warned that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza were at the highest levels since the war began. The Gaza war started when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The Age
14 minutes ago
- The Age
Gunmen disguised as Gaza aid workers ‘eliminated' in drone strike, Israel says
In November, an Israeli strike killed five people, including a World Central Kitchen worker who Israel said was part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity said at the time that it was unaware the employee had any connection to the attack. In March, 15 Palestinian medics were killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, their bodies and the mangled ambulances later found buried in a mass grave, apparently ploughed over by Israeli military bulldozers. Those killed were eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gaza's Civil Defence emergency unit and a staff member from UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. An Israeli investigation into the killings found a chain of 'professional failures' and a deputy commander who was first to open fire was sacked. The shootings triggered outrage, with some calling it a war crime. Medical workers have special protection under international humanitarian law. Israeli officials have said Hamas militants use civilians and hospitals as cover. They have also accused Hamas of siphoning off aid to support its rule in the territory. The UN denies that the looting of aid is systematic. Loading There has also been a global outcry over Israel's killing of a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and five other journalists in strike on Sunday. Israel's military said Sharif had led a Hamas cell – an allegation that Al Jazeera and Sharif previously dismissed as baseless. The Committee to Protect Journalists and others described the killing as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted that ceasefire efforts in Gaza were now focused on a comprehensive deal that would release the remaining hostages all at once, rather than in phases. Arab officials told The Associated Press last week that mediators Egypt and Qatar were preparing a new framework for a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages in one go in return for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Loading The long-running indirect talks appeared to break down last month. But a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Tuesday, Egypt's state-run Qahera news channel reported, a sign that efforts have not been abandoned after 22 months of war. Israel has threatened to widen its military offensive against Hamas to the areas of Gaza that it does not yet control, and where most of the territory's 2 million residents have sought refuge. Those plans have sparked international condemnation and criticism within Israel, and could be intended to raise pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire. The militants still hold 50 hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war. Israel believes about 20 of them are alive. In an interview with Israel's i24 News network broadcast, Netanyahu was asked if the window had closed on a partial ceasefire deal. 'I think it's behind us,' Netanyahu said. 'We tried, we made all kinds of attempts, we went through a lot, but it turned out that they were just misleading us.' 'I want all of them,' he said of the hostages. 'The release of all the hostages, both alive and dead — that's the stage we're at.' Netanyahu said Israel's demands, however, had not changed and that the war would end only when all hostages were returned and Hamas has surrendered. He has said that even then, Israel will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Hamas has long called for a comprehensive deal but says it will only release the remaining hostages in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The militant group has refused to lay down its arms, as Israel has demanded. Loading The United Nations on Tuesday warned that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza were at the highest levels since the war began. The Gaza war started when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
West Australian
26 minutes ago
- West Australian
Marco Rubio says Palestine recognition plans by Australia and European nations as ‘largely meaningless'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed Australia's plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN next month as 'symbolic' and 'largely meaningless,' saying such moves are driven by domestic politics and won't determine the region's future. Mr Rubio said real change depended on actions and developments within the region itself, rather than external declarations or diplomatic gestures from western countries or Australia. 'It's largely meaningless,' Mr Rubio said, when asked about the Israel-Palestine conflict in an interview with WABC radio overnight. 'It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics. 'The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. 'It's not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. 'It's difficult and it ain't easy, but that's a fact. But all these statements are meaningless … they're not going to change anything.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, that his government plans to join other nations in recognising Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. It marked a significant shift in foreign policy after previously stating a string of set conditions would have to be in place first and would align Australia with nations such as France, the United Kingdom, and Canada — which have either formally recognised Palestine or signalled their intention to do so. The Prime Minister, however, was quickly criticised by the Opposition, who argued recognising a Palestinian state while the terrorist group Hamas remained in control only 'rewarded' them, was largely 'symbolic' and did little to address the humanitarian crisis on the ground. Mr Rubio also said the future of the conflict will ultimately be decided by events and actions on the ground, not by external governments. 'It's going to be decided by: when will the day come when Palestinian areas are not governed by terrorist organisations? Because that's truly what this comes down to,' the top US diplomat said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a Canberra press conference on Monday that she had called Mr Rubio, who is her US counterpart, before Australia announced its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood as a courtesy to the ally. On Wednesday, Sussan Ley also condemned the PM for being 'distracted' by Palestinian recognition instead of focusing on Australians. 'He's clearly distracted by what he's been talking about now for weeks with respect to Palestinian recognition that is actually not going to make the world actually not going to make the world a safer place, not going to free hostage, not going to deliver aid, not going to deliver the two-state solution,' Ms Ley told Sunrise on Wednesday morning. It comes as concerns grow about whether Hamas will truly be disarmed in Gaza with a new survey published on Wednesday showing support for the Palestinian Authority stands at just 22 per cent, while nearly 60 per cent of Palestinians express support for Hamas. Ms Ley had revealed on Tuesday that the Coalition resolved in a shadow cabinet meeting to revoke unconditional recognition of Palestine if elected at the 2028 federal poll. While maintaining their long-held support for a two-state solution, Ms Ley said the Coalition believed recognition could only occur once Hamas was demilitarised. US President Donald Trump last month criticised the UK and Canada for recognising Palestine, saying it rewards Hamas while the group blocks ceasefire talks and holds hostages. Australia's decision breaks from its key ally the US but it also leaves Washington and a few others like South Korea and Germany as international outliers, holding out on recognition. It also comes as Mr Albanese hasn't rescheduled a meeting with Mr Trump since their planned G7 sideline in Canada was cancelled by the US President in June, with questions raised about whether recent recognition might jeopardise the possibility of talks at next month's UN assembly in New York. In a blitz of media interviews on Wednesday morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers backed the Albanese Government's recognition decision, stressing it aligned with international momentum toward a two-state solution. He said Australia was working closely with global partners who all wanted Hamas excluded from any future Palestinian government and for the Palestinian Authority to meet the assurances it gave. 'This is all about making sure that we are making a contribution to the international momentum and progress which is being made on this question,' Dr Chalmers said. 'This is about isolating and excluding Hamas from the future government of a Palestinian state. 'The Palestinian Authority has made a number of commitments on this front. 'We will continue to work closely with our friends around the world to see that outcome, to see this progress and to keep the Palestinian Authority up to the mark on the commitments that they've made around some of these key questions. Dr Chalmers also acknowledged the complexities ahead and said the government is realistic about the challenges in achieving peace. 'We're not naive about how difficult the coming months and years will be but if you come back to the principle here, the most important thing is that we see peace in the region,' he said. The PM's shift in position came after about 100,000 pro-Palestine protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3, which led to the closure of the bridge to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
