Israel faces growing calls to scrap Gaza offensive plan
Netanyahu's security cabinet, of which the minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is a member, approved the plan by majority on Friday to expand military operations in the shattered Palestinian enclave to try to defeat militant group Hamas.
The move drew a chorus of condemnation within Israel, where thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv - and abroad - on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages held by militant group Hamas.
The United Nations Security Council was expected to meet later on Sunday to discuss the plan, with many countries expressing concern it could worsen already acute hunger among Palestinians.
Netanyahu was expected to give a news conference for international media in Israel and make a televised announcement later in the day. It was not clear what he would say.
Smotrich said he has lost faith in Netanyahu's ability and desire to lead to a victory over Hamas. The new plan, he said in a video on X late on Saturday, was intended to get Hamas back to ceasefire negotiations.
The prime minister and the cabinet have decided to do "more of the same" he said, referring to the fact that Israeli troops have entered the city before and failed to defeat Hamas.
He and other far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition argue the plan does not go far enough but Smotrich stopped short of delivering a clear ultimatum to Netanyahu.
Other far-right coalition allies of Netanyahu have also pushed for total military occupation of Gaza, the annexation of large swaths of the territory and the removal of much of its Palestinian population.
The Israeli military has warned expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding in Gaza, believed to number about 20, and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare.
Italy said Israel should heed its army's warnings.
"The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told daily Il Messaggero.
He reiterated calls for a UN mission led by Arab countries to "reunify the Palestinian state" and said Italy was ready to participate.
The Security Council is likely to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the prospect of its worsening if the Israeli plan goes ahead but there has been little appetite among Arab states to send in troops.
Israel has come under mounting pressure over widespread hunger and thirst in the enclave, prompting it to announce a series of new measures to ease aid distribution.
The Israeli military said on Sunday the contents of almost 1900 aid trucks were distributed last week from the Gaza sides of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim border crossings.
The United Nations has said Gaza needs far more aid.
Medics said a 14-year-old boy was killed on Saturday when an aid airdrop fell on a tent encampment in central Gaza.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said his death raised the number of people killed during the airdrops to 23 since the war began.
"We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," it said.
Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel and killed 1200 people, and took 251 hostages. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.
Israel's far-right finance minister has demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrap his plan to seize Gaza City in favour of a tougher one, while Italy says the plan could result in a "Vietnam" for Israel's army.
Netanyahu's security cabinet, of which the minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is a member, approved the plan by majority on Friday to expand military operations in the shattered Palestinian enclave to try to defeat militant group Hamas.
The move drew a chorus of condemnation within Israel, where thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv - and abroad - on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages held by militant group Hamas.
The United Nations Security Council was expected to meet later on Sunday to discuss the plan, with many countries expressing concern it could worsen already acute hunger among Palestinians.
Netanyahu was expected to give a news conference for international media in Israel and make a televised announcement later in the day. It was not clear what he would say.
Smotrich said he has lost faith in Netanyahu's ability and desire to lead to a victory over Hamas. The new plan, he said in a video on X late on Saturday, was intended to get Hamas back to ceasefire negotiations.
The prime minister and the cabinet have decided to do "more of the same" he said, referring to the fact that Israeli troops have entered the city before and failed to defeat Hamas.
He and other far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition argue the plan does not go far enough but Smotrich stopped short of delivering a clear ultimatum to Netanyahu.
Other far-right coalition allies of Netanyahu have also pushed for total military occupation of Gaza, the annexation of large swaths of the territory and the removal of much of its Palestinian population.
The Israeli military has warned expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding in Gaza, believed to number about 20, and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare.
Italy said Israel should heed its army's warnings.
"The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told daily Il Messaggero.
He reiterated calls for a UN mission led by Arab countries to "reunify the Palestinian state" and said Italy was ready to participate.
The Security Council is likely to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the prospect of its worsening if the Israeli plan goes ahead but there has been little appetite among Arab states to send in troops.
Israel has come under mounting pressure over widespread hunger and thirst in the enclave, prompting it to announce a series of new measures to ease aid distribution.
The Israeli military said on Sunday the contents of almost 1900 aid trucks were distributed last week from the Gaza sides of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim border crossings.
The United Nations has said Gaza needs far more aid.
Medics said a 14-year-old boy was killed on Saturday when an aid airdrop fell on a tent encampment in central Gaza.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said his death raised the number of people killed during the airdrops to 23 since the war began.
"We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," it said.
Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel and killed 1200 people, and took 251 hostages. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.
Israel's far-right finance minister has demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrap his plan to seize Gaza City in favour of a tougher one, while Italy says the plan could result in a "Vietnam" for Israel's army.
Netanyahu's security cabinet, of which the minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is a member, approved the plan by majority on Friday to expand military operations in the shattered Palestinian enclave to try to defeat militant group Hamas.
The move drew a chorus of condemnation within Israel, where thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv - and abroad - on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages held by militant group Hamas.
The United Nations Security Council was expected to meet later on Sunday to discuss the plan, with many countries expressing concern it could worsen already acute hunger among Palestinians.
Netanyahu was expected to give a news conference for international media in Israel and make a televised announcement later in the day. It was not clear what he would say.
Smotrich said he has lost faith in Netanyahu's ability and desire to lead to a victory over Hamas. The new plan, he said in a video on X late on Saturday, was intended to get Hamas back to ceasefire negotiations.
The prime minister and the cabinet have decided to do "more of the same" he said, referring to the fact that Israeli troops have entered the city before and failed to defeat Hamas.
He and other far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition argue the plan does not go far enough but Smotrich stopped short of delivering a clear ultimatum to Netanyahu.
Other far-right coalition allies of Netanyahu have also pushed for total military occupation of Gaza, the annexation of large swaths of the territory and the removal of much of its Palestinian population.
The Israeli military has warned expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding in Gaza, believed to number about 20, and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare.
Italy said Israel should heed its army's warnings.
"The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told daily Il Messaggero.
He reiterated calls for a UN mission led by Arab countries to "reunify the Palestinian state" and said Italy was ready to participate.
The Security Council is likely to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the prospect of its worsening if the Israeli plan goes ahead but there has been little appetite among Arab states to send in troops.
Israel has come under mounting pressure over widespread hunger and thirst in the enclave, prompting it to announce a series of new measures to ease aid distribution.
The Israeli military said on Sunday the contents of almost 1900 aid trucks were distributed last week from the Gaza sides of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim border crossings.
The United Nations has said Gaza needs far more aid.
Medics said a 14-year-old boy was killed on Saturday when an aid airdrop fell on a tent encampment in central Gaza.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said his death raised the number of people killed during the airdrops to 23 since the war began.
"We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," it said.
Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel and killed 1200 people, and took 251 hostages. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.
Israel's far-right finance minister has demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrap his plan to seize Gaza City in favour of a tougher one, while Italy says the plan could result in a "Vietnam" for Israel's army.
Netanyahu's security cabinet, of which the minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is a member, approved the plan by majority on Friday to expand military operations in the shattered Palestinian enclave to try to defeat militant group Hamas.
The move drew a chorus of condemnation within Israel, where thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv - and abroad - on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages held by militant group Hamas.
The United Nations Security Council was expected to meet later on Sunday to discuss the plan, with many countries expressing concern it could worsen already acute hunger among Palestinians.
Netanyahu was expected to give a news conference for international media in Israel and make a televised announcement later in the day. It was not clear what he would say.
Smotrich said he has lost faith in Netanyahu's ability and desire to lead to a victory over Hamas. The new plan, he said in a video on X late on Saturday, was intended to get Hamas back to ceasefire negotiations.
The prime minister and the cabinet have decided to do "more of the same" he said, referring to the fact that Israeli troops have entered the city before and failed to defeat Hamas.
He and other far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition argue the plan does not go far enough but Smotrich stopped short of delivering a clear ultimatum to Netanyahu.
Other far-right coalition allies of Netanyahu have also pushed for total military occupation of Gaza, the annexation of large swaths of the territory and the removal of much of its Palestinian population.
The Israeli military has warned expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding in Gaza, believed to number about 20, and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare.
Italy said Israel should heed its army's warnings.
"The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told daily Il Messaggero.
He reiterated calls for a UN mission led by Arab countries to "reunify the Palestinian state" and said Italy was ready to participate.
The Security Council is likely to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the prospect of its worsening if the Israeli plan goes ahead but there has been little appetite among Arab states to send in troops.
Israel has come under mounting pressure over widespread hunger and thirst in the enclave, prompting it to announce a series of new measures to ease aid distribution.
The Israeli military said on Sunday the contents of almost 1900 aid trucks were distributed last week from the Gaza sides of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim border crossings.
The United Nations has said Gaza needs far more aid.
Medics said a 14-year-old boy was killed on Saturday when an aid airdrop fell on a tent encampment in central Gaza.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said his death raised the number of people killed during the airdrops to 23 since the war began.
"We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," it said.
Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel and killed 1200 people, and took 251 hostages. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
17 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Netanyahu cares for nothing
Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't care. He doesn't care that Palestinian civilians are dying. If he did, he'd call the food trucks in and order his bombers out. 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. Loading 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.
The Age
17 minutes ago
- The Age
Netanyahu cares for nothing
Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't care. He doesn't care that Palestinian civilians are dying. If he did, he'd call the food trucks in and order his bombers out. 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. Loading 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.
AU Financial Review
17 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Netanyahu's government has brought Palestinian recognition upon Israel
The Australian Financial Review argued two weeks ago that Israel was losing the battle to win hearts and minds in Western nations due, in part, to the horrifying pictures of starving Gazan children. That assessment has since been confirmed by Australia joining with other traditionally Israel-friendly countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand to support recognising the state of Palestine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a media conference on Monday, lashed out at Australia and other countries for what he said was their 'shameful ' position on Palestinian statehood. Yet it is the policies of the right-wing Netanyahu government that have galvanised international support for formally acknowledging the sovereignty of the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's ordering of a full Israeli military takeover of Gaza City on Friday was the ultimate catalyst for the Albanese government's decision to bring forward the announcement of Australia's plan to recognise a Palestinian state.
