Netanyahu says Israel to take over entire Gaza Strip
Expanding military operations in Gaza would put the lives of countless Palestinians and the roughly 20 remaining Israeli hostages at risk while further isolating Israel internationally. Israel already controls around three quarters of the devastated territory.
Families of hostages held in Gaza fear an escalation could doom their loved ones, and some protested outside the Security Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Former top Israeli security officials have also come out against the plan, warning of a quagmire with little added military benefit.
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Mahmoud Khalil torched for attempting to ‘justify' Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israel
Anti-Israel protest leader Mahmoud Khalil has been slammed after he attempted to 'justify' Hamas' massacre in Israel on October 7. Khalil's comments have been widely condemned as he attempted to rationalise why Hamas killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped over 250 as hostages. The Columbia University campus leader's comments came during an interview on New York Times journalist Ezra Klein's podcast. During the interview, Khalil claimed October 7 was a 'desperate' moment that the Palestinian people 'had to reach' for their voices to be heard. When asked about the terror organisation's attack on Israel, Khalil said, 'Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid such a moment.'
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
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Netanyahu says Israel to control not govern Gaza
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel plans to take full control of Gaza but does not intend to govern it, as he convened his security cabinet to discuss updated plans 22 months into the war. The cabinet meeting comes as Mr Netanyahu faces mounting pressure at home and abroad for a truce deal to pull Gaza's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and to spare hostages held by Palestinian militants. With tensions rising, Mr Netanyahu took to the airwaves telling US network Fox News the government intends to seize complete control of the Gaza Strip, where the military has been fighting Hamas since the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack. Asked if Israel will take control of 'all of Gaza', Mr Netanyahu said: 'We intend to.' He was expected to seek the cabinet's approval for an expanded offensive, which could see ground troops operate in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held, Israeli media reported. Get all the latest news happening around the world as it happens — download the app direct to your phone. Mr Netanyahu said Israel plans to take full control of Gaza but does not intend to govern it. Picture: Fox News Mr Netanyahu told Fox News 'we don't want to keep' the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied in 1967 but withdrew troops and settlers in 2005. 'We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it,' Mr Netanyahu said. 'We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life. That's not possible with Hamas.' The reported plans to expand the war have sparked growing concern in Israel about what it means for the remaining hostages. Mr Netanyahu is expected to seek the cabinet's approval for an expanded offensive. Picture: Fox News As the cabinet meeting kicked off, hundreds rallied near the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, calling for a deal to free the hostages. 'The only way to bring the hostages home is to halt the war and end the suffering of the hostages and all those living through this terrible conflict,' said protester Sharon Kangasa-Cohen. Protesters gathered to demonstrate against Netanyahu's plans to expand occupation in Gaza on August 7, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Picture: Amir Levy/Getty Protesters held up images of hostages as they demonstrated. Picture: Amir Levy/Getty 'More destruction' Hamas in a statement said that 'Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm beyond any doubt his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice them in pursuit of his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda'. Earlier Thursday, relatives of hostages set sail from the port of Ashkelon seeking to approach the Gaza Strip where their loved ones have endured 22 months of captivity. Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead. Ahead of Thursday's meeting, rumours have been rife in the Israeli press about disagreements between the cabinet and Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir, who is said to oppose plans to fully reoccupy Gaza. Israeli soldiers organise military equipment while standing on armoured personnel carriers near the border with the Gaza Strip. Picture; Amir Levy/Getty On Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz had weighed in on social media saying the military must ultimately respect any policies adopted by the government. In a statement released by the military Thursday, Mr Zamir underscored his independence, vowing to 'continue to express our position without fear'. 'We are dealing with matters of life and death … and we do so while looking directly into the eyes of our soldiers and citizens,' Mr Zamir said. In Gaza, meanwhile, fears grew over what an expansion of Israeli operations would entail. 'Ground operations mean more destruction and death,' said Ahmad Salem, 45. 'Unrealistic costs' International concern has been growing over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where a UN-backed assessment warned that famine was unfolding. The World Health Organization said at least 99 people have died from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip this year, with the figure likely an underestimate. Displaced Gazan Mahmoud Wafi said that the prices of available food remained high and erratic. 'We hope that food will be made available again in normal quantities and at reasonable prices, because we can no longer afford these extremely high and unrealistic costs,' the 38-year-old told AFP. Palestinians gather at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 19, 2025. Picture: Eyad BABA / AFP In late July, Israel partially eased restrictions on aid entering Gaza, but the United Nations says the amount allowed into the territory remains insufficient. Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network in the Gaza Strip, told AFP that lengthy inspection procedures at entry points meant few trucks could come in. 'What is currently entering the Gaza Strip are very limited numbers of trucks – between 70 to 80 per day – carrying only specific types of goods,' he said. The United Nations estimates that Gaza needs at least 600 trucks of aid per day to meet its residents' basic needs. Amid the shortages, bloodshed continued with Gaza's civil defence agency saying Israeli attacks across the territory on Thursday killed at least 35 people. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,258 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures Originally published as Netanyahu says Israel to control not govern Gaza
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Tony Burke demands answers after Hamas-praising Palestinian woman granted Australian visa
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has demanded answers after a Palestinian woman who praised Hamas attack on Israel was granted an Australian visa. Mona Zahed had thanked Allah for keeping her alive long enough to witness Hamas's October 7 terrorist attack on a music festival — where more than 1200 people were slaughtered and 250 hostages seized. She had rejoiced in an Instagram post which included a photo of panicked, fleeing festival-goers: 'Praise be to Allah who has kept us alive to see this day' and 'we always see you well'. 'We woke up and got God's kingdom,' she declared in another. It's understood the Hamas sympathiser had received visa approval with the support of controversial Melbourne-based artist and anti-Israel children's author Matt Chun for a speaking tour in Australia. Minister Burke on Friday issued a statement after her visa approval made headlines across Australia, confirming he had questioned the Department of Home Affairs about Ms Zahed's visa status. 'This is a serious issue. The Government is taking it seriously, questions were put to the department as soon as the Minister's office became aware,' the Labor minister said. 'The Government is serious in its view about not importing hatred and we set a higher bar when the purpose of someone's visit is a speaking tour.' He also confirmed Ms Zahed was currently overseas and not in Australia. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie questioned how the Albanese Government would allow someone who celebrated the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack which sparked the Gaza conflict into the county. 'Self-declared Jew haters, self-declared terrorist sympathisers. She shouldn't be allowed in. On what planet do we think it's okay? That is not the way to build social cohesion,' Ms McKenzie said. 'Importing values which are sympathetic to the horrific actions of Hamas on October 7, and it's actually against building a cohesive society.' Hamas is listed as a designated a terrorist group by the Australian government and has been condemned for the civilian attack. Ms Zahed's visa approval comes as the Government is considering joining a string of other allied nations in recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Hamas must play no governing role in any future Palestinian authority and statehood needs to come at the most effective time to ensure peace and the security of Israel.
