Israel prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza ahead of offensive
The military said it had no comment on when that movement would begin.
Meanwhile, anxious families of Israeli hostages called for a 'nationwide day of stoppage' in Israel on Sunday to express growing frustration over 22 months of war.
Families of hostages fear the coming offensive further endangers the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, just 20 of them thought to still be alive.
The families and supporters have pressed the government for a deal to stop the war – a call that some former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs have also made in recent weeks.
'I want to believe that there is hope, and it will not come from above, it will come only from us,' said Dana Silberman Sitton, sister of Shiri Bibas and aunt of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were killed in captivity.
She spoke at a weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
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The Guardian
14 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Far-right Israeli politician barred from Australia ahead of speaking tour
A far-right Israeli politician, who has described Gazan children as 'enemies' and called for Israel's total control of the West Bank, has been denied entry into Australia ahead of an upcoming 'solidarity tour'. Simcha Rothman, a member of the Knesset for the far-right party Religious Zionism, was scheduled to appear at two public events in Sydney and Melbourne in August and two private events billed as a 'solidarity tour'. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Monday Rothman's visa application had been rejected and he would not be able to apply for one for three years. Guardian Australia first put questions to his office on Friday morning. 'Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,' Burke said in a statement. 'If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don't want you here. 'Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.' Rothman is a member of the Netanyahu government's coalition and his party's leader is finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the Albanese government in June alongside Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The events with Rothman, organised by the right-leaning Australian Jewish Association (AJA), are described as a 'solidarity tour to show support for Australia's Jewish community'. 'Australian Jews are experiencing unprecedented antisemitism. Many feel that the Australian government has abandoned the Jewish community,' the group's event description reads. 'Simcha is an excellent speaker and will be sharing words of support for the Jewish community as well as providing an update from Israel.' Burke has previously barred the entry of other personalities and politicians with a history of controversial or offensive statements, including US rapper Kanye West, US law professor Khaled Beydoun and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia said it had been 'deeply concerned' by Rothman's planned visit, claiming it was 'part of an effort to encourage support for the Israeli government'. Bart Shteinman, a council spokesperson, said Rothman's visit was a reminder of 'how shallow and incomplete' Australia's response to the Israeli government has been. The AJA's chief executive, Robert Gregory, dismissed the council's criticism, adding Rothman's trip to Australia was 'not connected to current events in the Middle East'. 'In general, AJA does not take positions on every statement made by past speakers, but as a community organisation we believe in giving the Jewish community the opportunity to hear from Israeli and Australian decision-makers across the political spectrum,' Gregory said in a statement before his visa was rejected. Rothman did not respond to email requests for comment. Rothman is an outspoken critic of a two-state solution and has supported US president Donald Trump's proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza, citing security concerns for Israel. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion In a May interview with the UK's Channel 4, he claimed children within Gaza were 'enemies' who should not be allowed to flee into Israel as 'you don't let them conquer your country with refugees'. 'They are our enemies and according to international treaties about refugees in the time of war, you don't let them conquer your country with refugees,' Rothman said. Rothman was one of a handful of Knesset members who initiated a symbolic motion in July to 'apply' Israel's sovereignty to the occupied West Bank territory. The motion passed 71-13. In a social media post shortly after, Rothman said applying Israel's sovereignty to the occupied territory would make it clear to the world that the land belongs to the people of Israel 'today, tomorrow and forever'. Rothman is also the architect of a bill to formally change all references to the West Bank in legislation to the preferred historical Israeli name, Judea and Samaria. The bill's explanatory notes say the change will 'rectify a historical injustice that was created by foreigners' and 'conforms to the general trend of strengthening the Israeli linkage to the region and safeguarding the Jewish people's historical rights'. Rothman played a controversial role in Israel spearheading a movement to allow a Knesset majority to override almost any supreme court rulings, and to allow politicians to appoint most of the justices to the bench. The Netanyahu government proposal sparked protests in 2023 within Israel in the months before the 7 October attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militant group, Hamas, leading to political instability.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Israel's growing frustration over war in Gaza erupts in nationwide protests
Groups representing families of hostages organised the demonstrations, and gave an even larger estimate of attendees, as frustration grows in Israel over plans for a new military offensive in some of Gaza's most populated areas. Many Israelis fear this could further endanger the remaining hostages. Twenty of the 50 who remain are believed to be alive. 'We don't win a war over the bodies of hostages,' protesters chanted. Even some former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs now call for a deal to end the fighting. Protesters gathered at dozens of places including outside politicians' homes, military headquarters and on major roads. They blocked lanes and lit bonfires. Some restaurants and theatres closed in solidarity. Police said they arrested 38 people. 'The only way to bring (hostages) back is through a deal, all at once, without games,' former hostage Arbel Yehoud said at a demonstration in Tel Aviv. Her boyfriend Ariel Cunio is still held by Hamas. One protester carried a photo of an emaciated Palestinian child from Gaza. Such images were once rare at Israeli demonstrations but now appear more often as outrage grows over conditions for Palestinian civilians after more than 250 malnutrition-related deaths. An end to the war does not seem near. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is balancing competing pressures including the potential for mutiny within his coalition. 'Those who today call for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas's position and delaying the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will be repeated,' Mr Netanyahu said, referencing the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that killed some 1,200 people and sparked the war. The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages earlier this year, far-right members of his cabinet threatened to topple Mr Netanyahu's government. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called the demonstrations on Sunday 'a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas's hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardise its security and future'. The new offensive would require the call-up of thousands of reservists, another concern for many Israelis. Hospitals and witnesses in Gaza said Israeli forces killed at least 17 aid-seekers on Sunday, including nine awaiting UN aid trucks close to the Morag corridor. Hamza Asfour said he was just north of the corridor awaiting a convoy when Israeli snipers fired, first to disperse the crowds, then from tanks hundreds of metres away. He saw two people with gunshot wounds. 'It's either to take this risk or wait and see my family die of starvation,' he said. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which runs the Israeli-backed and US-supported distribution points that have become the main source of aid since they opened in May, said there was no gunfire 'at or near' its sites, which are located in military-controlled areas. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions. Israel's air and ground war has displaced most of Gaza's population and killed more than 61,900 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. Two children and five adults died of malnutrition-related causes on Sunday, according to the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own. The United Nations has warned that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. Most aid has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after ending a ceasefire. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organisations say the flow is far below what is needed. It is not clear when Israel's military will begin the new offensive in the crowded Gaza City, Muwasi and what Mr Netanyahu has called the 'central camps' of Gaza. The military body that co-ordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, this weekend noted plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones to southern Gaza 'for their protection'. But designated 'safe zones' have also been bombed during the war. War-weary Palestinians said on Sunday that they would not leave, arguing that there was 'no safe place' in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, escalating strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who since the war in Gaza began have fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah Television said the strikes targeted a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a fire and knocking it out of service. Israel's military said the strikes were launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Tens of thousands of protesters gather in Tel Aviv to demand end to Gaza war
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Tel Aviv to call for an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages, one of the largest demonstrations in Israel since the start of the fighting in October 2023. The rally on Sunday evening was the culmination of a day of nationwide protests and a general strike to pressure the government to halt the military campaign. 'Bring them all home! Stop the war!' shouted the vast crowd, which had converged on the so-called Hostage Square in Tel Aviv plaza – a focal point for protesters throughout the war. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the initiator of the day of protest, estimated that about 500,000 people joined the demonstration in Tel Aviv – a figure not confirmed by the police. 'We demand a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war,' said Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan and a leading figure of the protest movement. 'We demand what is rightfully ours – our children. The Israeli government has transformed a just war into a pointless war.' National media published a video message by Matan Zangauker on Sunday, in which the hostage, weak and emaciated, addressed his family and told them he missed them. The video was filmed by Hamas and found in Gaza by the army, the family said. 'This is probably the last minute we have to save the hostages,' demonstrator Ofir Penso, 50, told AFP. The protests come more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, 22 months into a war that has created a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group vowed on Sunday that protesters would 'shut down the country' with the goal of bringing back the hostages and ending the war. Throughout Israel, demonstrators blocked traffic arteries, set tyres on fire and clashed with the police. More than 30 protesters were arrested, law enforcement said. Netanyahu criticised the protesters, saying their actions 'not only harden Hamas's position and draw out the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of 7 October will reoccur'. Egypt said in recent days mediators were leading a renewed push to secure a 60-day truce deal that includes hostages being released, after the last round of talks in Qatar ended without a breakthrough. Some Israeli government members who oppose any deal with Hamas hit out at Sunday's demonstrations. Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, decried a 'perverse and harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas' and calls for 'surrender'. However, Benny Gantz, an opposition leader, condemned the government for 'attacking the families of the hostages' while 'bearing responsibility for the captivity of their children by Hamas for nearly two years'. Israel's military offensive has killed at least 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, most of them civilians. The figure does not include the thousands believed to be buried under rubble or the thousands killed indirectly as a consequence of the war.
