Israel has begun first stages of its planned assault on Gaza City, says Israeli military spokesman
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Daily Record
a few seconds ago
- Daily Record
Netanyahu convenes security cabinet as Israel prepares ground assault on Gaza City
Israel's military is set to launch a major ground assault on Gaza City, with tens of thousands of soldiers being sent as part of "preliminary actions" to occupy the heavily populated civilian area Israel's military stands ready to launch a massive ground assault on Gaza City, with thousands of troops being positioned as part of "preliminary actions" to seize the densely populated civilian zone. 60,000 of Israel's citizens have been mobilised for active service ahead of the major offensive on Gaza's largest city, where nearly half of the territory's displaced population are now taking refuge. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security cabinet meeting this week (August 21) to secure approval for the military operation on Gaza City, where 70 per cent of all structures have been damaged following relentless airstrikes and a catastrophic siege in 2024. This cabinet gathering will not be addressing the ceasefire agreement accepted by Hamas earlier this week, which Netanyahu has declined to discuss, according to Haaretz reporting. The Prime Minister's office stated instead: "Netanyahu has ordered the timetable for taking over the last terrorist strongholds and defeating Hamas." The estimated death toll in the territory now stands at over 62,000 in the 21 months of Israel's response to the October 7 terror attacks, where militant groups from Gaza killed 1200 Israeli soldiers and civilians, while taking 240 hostage. After months of food aid restrictions and with no conclusion to the conflict in sight, 266 Gazans have now perished from starvation, 122 of those starved to death have been children according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Hamas, reacting to Israel's preparations to seize and control Gaza City, declared the offensive "will fail, just as previous military operations have." Their spokesperson went on to say that the assault "aims to destroy the remaining foundations of life in Gaza." The banned terror organisation continued: "Netanyahu's disregard for the mediators' proposal and his failure to respond to it proves that he is the true obstructionist of any agreement, that he does not care about the lives of [Israeli captives], and that he is not serious about their return." IDF troops are already positioned close to the major city, with forces gathering in Jabalia and Zeitoun, where military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin cautioned: "We will deepen the damage to the terror infrastructure above and below the ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas." This intended ground offensive will unfold in a city that has already been "reduced to dust," according to one local who spoke to Al Jazeera. "There is no form of life if we wish to return. "We can't find water or homes, we can't even live in tents." Israel's armed forces have confirmed they will instruct all civilians to leave Gaza City and escape to humanitarian zones in the south, where many of the Palestinian territory's two million displaced people are already taking refuge. In this section of Gaza, analysis from BBC Verify and other organisations has revealed Israeli bulldozers and controlled demolitions flattening areas that were once home to tens of thousands of people. Numerous allies of Israel have criticised the proposed occupation of Gaza City, alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu's strategy for the military to control the entire Gaza Strip, which surfaced after ceasefire negotiations collapsed last month. France's President Macron declared on Wednesday that the offensive "can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war".
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Benjamin Netanyahu launches his most personal attack on Anthony Albanese yet - despite local Jewish groups calling for calm
Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified his attacks on Anthony Albanese, declaring that the Australian Prime Minister 's record is 'forever tarnished' by his 'weakness'. The Israeli Prime Minister branded Albanese a 'weak leader' who 'abandoned' Australia's Jews over his decision to recognise Palestinian statehood and the diplomatic spat over revoked visas. Now, in an interview with Sky News to air on Thursday evening, Netanyahu has doubled down on his criticism, claiming Albanese has shown 'weakness' in the face of Hamas. 'I'm sure he has a reputable record as a public servant, but I think his record is forever tarnished by the weakness he has shown in the face of these Hamas terrorist monsters,' Netanyahu told Sky News. 'When the worst terrorist organisation on earth – these savages who murdered women, raped them, beheaded men, burnt babies alive in front of their parents and took hundreds of hostages. 'When these people congratulate the Prime Minister of Australia, you know something is wrong.' Health Minister Mark Butler said on Thursday that Netanyahu's personal attacks were 'frankly ridiculous'. This follows Immigration Minister Tony Burke claiming on Wednesday that 'strength was not measured by how many people you can blow up'. 'Strength is much better measured by what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there's a decision we know Israel won't like he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu,' Burke told ABC Radio. Albanese, for his part, did not respond in kind, insisting he did not take the criticisms personally. 'My job is to represent the Australian national interest and I think very much that Australians want two things to happen,' he told reporters on Wednesday. 'One, they want people to stop killing each other. Whether it be Israelis or Palestinians. The second thing that they want is the conflict to not be brought here.' It comes as Executive Council of the Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion called for an end to the 'war of words' between Australia and Israel, claiming that Netanyahu's description of Albanese as a 'weak' leader was 'inflammatory and provocative'. 'These comments have played straight into the hands of opponents of Israel and antisemites, to the detriment of the Australian Jewish community,' he ECAJ letter states. 'This deterioration in the diplomatic relations between two countries we love is causing us nothing but pain and anguish, and we will not suffer in silence.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Offensive to take over Gaza City has begun, Israel says
The Israeli military has begun the initial phase of a planned operation to take full control of Gaza City, with troops already encircling its outskirts. This operation, approved by Israel's security cabinet, aims to force Gaza's 2.3 million population south and will involve calling up tens of thousands of additional reservists. Israel's stated objectives for the offensive include establishing security control over the entire Strip, disarming Hamas, securing the return of hostages, demilitarising Gaza, and setting up an alternative civil administration. The planned offensive has drawn international condemnation, with concerns raised by the UN and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about increased bloodshed, humanitarian crisis, and the safety of remaining hostages. Amid severe food shortages and ongoing bombardments, Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators, though Israel and the United States have yet to respond.
