Netanyahu says Israel will control Gaza as aid trucks prepare to enter
JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday (May 19) Israel would control the whole of Gaza despite mounting international pressure that forced it to lift a blockade on aid supplies which has left the enclave on the brink of famine.
The Israeli military, which announced the start of a new operation on Friday, warned residents of the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday to evacuate to the coast immediately as it prepared "an unprecedented attack".
"There is huge fighting going on, intense and huge, we are going to control all parts of Gaza," Netanyahu said in a video message in which he pledged to achieve "complete victory" with both the release of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza and the destruction of the Palestinian militant group.
Even as the military warned of the attack, Reuters reporters saw aid trucks heading towards northern Gaza after Netanyahu was forced to agree to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza in response to global concern at the reports of famine.
Netanyahu said US senators he has known for years as supporters of Israel, "our best friends in the world", were telling him the scenes of hunger were draining vital support and bringing Israel close to a "red line, to a point where we might lose control".
"It is for that reason, in order to achieve victory, we have to somehow solve the problem," he said, in a message apparently addressed to far-right hardliners in his government who have insisted aid be denied to Gaza to stop it reaching Hamas.
Overnight, Israeli air strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians, according to local medics, as the military said it hit 160 targets across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including anti-tank positions, underground infrastructure and a weapons storage point.
The Israeli military said forces engaged in a new campaign dubbed "Operation Gideon's Chariots" were active across Gaza, seeking to eliminate Hamas' military and governing capabilities and bring back remaining hostages seized in October 2023.
Netanyahu's office announced the easing of the aid blockade, saying Israel would let in limited amounts of food into Gaza.
Palestinian media said 50 trucks carrying flour, cooking oil and legumes would be allowed into the small coastal territory later on Monday, while Israeli media said nine trucks with baby food were expected to enter in coming hours.
Israel has faced rising international pressure over the blockade on humanitarian deliveries it imposed in March, shortly before breaking a two-month-old ceasefire, as aid agencies warn of famine in the enclave of 2.3 million people.
Nahed Shheibar, owner of a transport company involved in aid distribution, urged Gazans not to intercept or loot the trucks.
UNDERCOVER RAID
Separately, residents and medics said an Israeli undercover force killed a militant leader in a raid in the south as the army proceeded with its new ground offensive against Hamas-led Palestinian militants in the enclave.
Ahmed Sarhan, a commander of the Popular Resistance Committees, a militant group allied with Hamas, was killed in the raid by forces that entered the heart of the city of Khan Younis disguised as displaced persons, according to the medics.
Residents said Sarhan fought the force before he was killed, and that the Israelis detained his wife and children before retreating in a bus towards the eastern border with Gaza under a cover of fire from planes.
"As you see, they entered, opened a hole in the wall, entered the house and executed the father and took an 11-year-old child and his mother, and left,' said an eyewitness, Mohammed Sarhan, referring to the PRC commander.
ESCALATING MILITARY CAMPAIGN
Palestinian health officials said more than 500 people have been killed in attacks in the past eight days as Israel has stepped up its military campaign.
Israel made its announcement on aid after sources on both sides reported no progress in a new round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar.
Former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who left the government last year after falling out with Netanyahu, said the fact Hamas remained in Gaza represented a "resounding failure" for the Israeli campaign and reflected the government's failure to plan for the future of the enclave.
If a plan to replace Hamas had been made, "there would have been no debate about whether the aid would fall into the hands of Hamas, because it would no longer control Gaza", Gallant said in a statement.
Netanyahu said ceasefire discussions touched on a truce and hostage deal as well as a proposal to end the war in return for the exile of Hamas militants and the demilitarisation of Gaza - terms previously rejected by Hamas.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri blamed Israel for the lack of progress at the Doha talks and said escalating its offensive would be "a death sentence" for remaining hostages.
Israel's ground and air war has devastated Gaza, displacing nearly all its residents and killing more than 53,000 people, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The war erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities near Gaza's border on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Peace in Gaza likely to ‘come in phases', says Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim
Singapore will continue to do what it can to help, while adding its voice to calls for peace, said Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN Peace in Gaza likely to 'come in phases', says Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim SINGAPORE – Peace in Gaza is not something that can be attained all at once, and the dynamic situation there means any peace achieved will also likely not be perfect. Even so, the international community must continually strive for peace, as reducing the violence in Gaza will save lives, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim on June 4. Singapore will continue to do what it can to help while adding its voice to calls for peace, Associate Professor Faishal said in his first sit-down interview since being appointed to his new role. Speaking to reporters at the KopiCuts cafe at Wisma Geylang Serai, Prof Faishal said he understood the feelings and expectations of the Malay/Muslim community here on the issue of Palestine. It is reasonable that people here feel strongly about innocents being killed or displaced, said Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas-led gunmen on Oct 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Much of the enclave has since been destroyed and more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health authorities. Prof Faishal said the Government has held to clear and consistent principles on the issue since the 1960s. This includes its longstanding support for the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland of their own and the belief that a negotiated two-state solution – consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions – is the only viable path to achieving a just and durable peace. Singapore has consistently voted in support of UN General Assembly resolutions that reject Israeli settlements in the West Bank and supports the Palestinian Authority in building capacity for eventual statehood through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package. On May 31, Prof Faishal said he agreed with comments made by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in an op-ed, stating that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. 'If we look at what has been outlined by the Singapore Government, our principles are clear: We do not accept terrorism or murder,' he said in Malay. 'When the Israeli side did not allow humanitarian aid to enter (Gaza), we said that was wrong and (its actions) had gone too far.' Besides not staying silent, the Government has been working with organisations, such as Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation and Humanity Matters, and Singaporeans at large to provide humanitarian aid, and such efforts will continue, he added. Since the start of the conflict, Singapore and Singaporeans have together contributed seven tranches of humanitarian assistance for Gaza, amounting to more than $19 million. Even so, providing humanitarian aid to those affected has not been a straightforward task, Prof Faishal said. 'We have come to realise that even though we have the resources to do it, to enter (Gaza) is not easy, and these are complexities that we have to deal with not only in Singapore, but (also) globally,' he said. On March 2, two weeks before resuming its military offensive, Israel imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza. 'We want peace there, but if we look at the current situation, if it materialises, it will be in phases,' Prof Faishal said. 'This is the reality of life where there are various parties (fighting, but we should) continue efforts to achieve peace.' Prof Faishal said the Malay/Muslim community has very good values and etiquette that are respected by other communities. In line with these important values – such as rejecting violence, murder and injustice, and upholding human rights – the community here should support peace and harmony, and not accept violence or killings against anyone anywhere, including non-Muslims, he added. 'Until we reach this stage, our development in ihsan (excellence and spiritual perfection in Arabic) as human beings is incomplete,' Prof Faishal said. He said he intends to work with asatizah (religious teachers), Malay intellectuals and other segments of the community to cultivate these values. '(This ensures) we not only progress in terms of education and success but (also) that our hearts and our values as human beings are to also take care of the needs, welfare and safety of others.' Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israeli military recovers bodies of two hostages held by Hamas, prime minister says
Israeli military recovers bodies of two hostages held by Hamas, prime minister says DUBAI - Israel's military recovered the bodies of two hostages, Judi Weinstein-Haggai and Gad Haggai, who were held by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. The Israeli army said in a statement that the bodies of the husband and wife were recovered in a special operation from Khan Younis area in the Gaza Strip. Following the recovery of two bodies, 56 hostages are still held by Hamas, with fewer than half believed to be alive, according to Israeli estimates. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 assault in which Hamas-led gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies. In the subsequent fighting, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, local health authorities say. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
12 hours ago
- CNA
Anger as US blocks Gaza ceasefire resolution at UN Security Council
UNITED NATIONS: UN Security Council members criticised the United States on Wednesday (Jun 5) after it vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, which Washington said undermined ongoing diplomacy. It was the 15-member body's first vote on the situation since November, when the US - a key Israeli ally - also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. "Today, the United States sent a strong message by vetoing a counterproductive UN Security Council resolution on Gaza targeting Israel," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement after Wednesday's 14 to 1 vote. He said Washington would not support any text that "draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, or disregards Israel's right to defend itself. "The United States will continue to stand with Israel at the UN." The draft resolution had demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties". It also called for the "immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups", and demanded the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hamas, whose unprecedented attack inside Israel on Oct 7, 2023 sparked the war, condemned the "disgraceful" US veto, reiterating accusations of "genocide" in Gaza, something Israel vehemently rejects. The veto "marks a new stain on the ethical record of the United States of America," the group said in a statement, accusing Washington of "legitimising genocide, supporting aggression, and rationalising starvation, destruction, and mass killings". "MORAL STAIN" Pakistan's ambassador to the UN Asim Ahmad meanwhile said the failed resolution would "remain not only a moral stain on the conscience of this council, but a fateful moment of political application that will reverberate for generations". China's ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said "today's vote result once again exposes that the root cause of the council's inability to quell the conflict in Gaza is the repeated obstruction by the US." The veto marks Washington's first such action since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Israel has faced mounting international pressure to end its war in Gaza. That scrutiny has increased over flailing aid distribution in Gaza, which Israel blocked for more than two months before allowing a small number of UN vehicles to enter in mid-May. The United Nations, which warned last month the entire population in the besieged Palestinian territory was at risk of famine, said trickle was far from enough to meet the humanitarian needs. "JUDGED BY HISTORY" "The Council was prevented from shouldering its responsibility, despite the fact that most of us seem to be converging on one view," said France's ambassador to the UN Jerome Bonnafont. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, said after the Security Council vote he would now ask the General Assembly to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon however said that the Palestinian plan to put the resolution to a vote at the General Assembly, where no country can veto it, was pointless, telling countries "don't waste more of your energy". "This resolution doesn't advance humanitarian relief and undermines it. It ignores a working system in favor of political agendas," he said.
