logo
Hostage families ‘alarmed' as Israeli troops push into area where loved ones are believed to be held

Hostage families ‘alarmed' as Israeli troops push into area where loved ones are believed to be held

New York Post6 days ago
The families of the remaining hostages in Gaza said they were 'shocked and alarmed' to learn Monday that the Israeli military has expanded its operation to a city where their loved ones are believed to be held.
The Israel Defense Forces launched mass air raids and a ground operation in central Gaza targeting Deir al-Balah for the first time, the only remaining area of the Strip that has not suffered significant damage from the 21-month-old war.
Its exclusion from Israel's previous bombing campaign is believed to be because Hamas may be holding some of the remaining 50 hostages in that area, with the captives' loved ones fearing that the new military operation may put them in danger.
3 The Israeli military began firing airstrikes and tank shells in Deir Al-Balah, where some of the remaining 50 hostages are believed to be held.
REUTERS
Advertisement
3 The families of the hostages demanded answers from Israeli lawmakers about the operation that could risk the lives of the 20 hostages believed to be alive.
Instagram/@amitfrid1
'The families demand that the prime minister, defense minister, chief of staff, and IDF spokesperson appear before them and the Israeli public this evening to clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir al-Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk,' the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
'The people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages — both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake,' the forum added.
Advertisement
At least 20 of the 50 hostages are believed to be alive, with no word yet on when they would be freed as the cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel have yet to yield any results.
The Israeli military put out an order for all Palestinians to evacuate the city on Sunday, dropping thousands of leaflets into the area.
3 Protests have carried on in Tel Aviv demanding a cease-fire deal to free the hostages.
REUTERS
The air raids began early Monday, with Israeli tanks seen pushing into the city later as shells reportedly hit several houses and mosques in Deir al-Balah, according to medics operating in Gaza.
Advertisement
The Israeli military has yet to comment on the ongoing operation in the city.
The United Nations condemned the fighting in Deir al-Balah as it would force Palestinians to lose one of its last safe harbors from a war that has devastated the rest of the enclave.
'With this latest order, the area of Gaza under displacement orders or within Israeli-militarized zones has risen to 87.8%, leaving 2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12% of the strip, where essential services have collapsed,' the UN said in a statement released by its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Advertisement
The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza has complicated the cease-fire talks, with a Hamas official telling Reuters that the group was outraged over the constant wave of deaths at food distribution centers.
At least 67 were killed on Sunday after Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of people waiting for a UN aid truck to enter Gaza, with the military claiming it was under 'an immediate threat.'
With Post wires
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sen. Lindsey Graham says there's no way to for Israel to negotiate an end to the war with Hamas
Sen. Lindsey Graham says there's no way to for Israel to negotiate an end to the war with Hamas

NBC News

timean hour ago

  • NBC News

Sen. Lindsey Graham says there's no way to for Israel to negotiate an end to the war with Hamas

WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in an interview on NBC News' 'Meet the Press' on Sunday that he believes there is no way for Israel to safely negotiate an end to the war with Hamas and that Israel would take over Gaza, comparing the move to U.S. actions at the end of World War II. Graham said he believed Israel has concluded 'that they can't achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel.' 'I think President Trump has come to believe, and I certainly have come to believe, there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas,' Graham said. 'They're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take the place by force and start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza,' he later added. His comments come as Israel is facing mounting international pressure over a growing hunger crisis in Gaza, where at least 133 people have died by starvation, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. On Sunday, Israel announced a pause in fighting in parts of Gaza to facilitate aid delivery. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously said that Israel was 'moving toward full control' of Gaza. Ceasefire discussions have stalled in recent days, and the White House's special envoy Steve Witkoff last week brought home the U.S. negotiating team, which had been participating in talks in Qatar. Asked whether a takeover of Gaza would mean hostages would not come home alive, Graham said, 'I hope not.' 'I think there are people maybe in the Hamas organization that would accept safe passage if they release the hostages,' Graham said. 'If I were Israel, I'd make that offer to Hamas fighters: 'You can leave safely. We want our hostages back.'' Graham continues advocating for special counsel to investigate Obama claims Graham on Sunday advocated for a special counsel to investigate Republicans' claims that President Barack Obama tried to influence an intelligence assessment about Russian interference in the 2016 election. These claims came to the fore last week when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard alleged during a press briefing that the former president participated in a 'treasonous conspiracy' to harm Trump's campaign. Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush has said that the 'bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' NBC News has also reported that former CIA officer Susan Miller, who helped lead the team that produced a report on Russia's actions during the 2016 election, defended the report and said the White House was 'lying' about it. Graham said Sunday that 'the best way to handle this is if there is evidence of a crime being committed, or suspected evidence of a crime being committed, create a special counsel to look at it.' A special counsel had previously been appointed during the first Trump administration to examine the origins of the Russia probe, and in 2023, then- special counsel John Durham argued that certain FBI personnel 'displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor toward the information they received.' A 2020 Senate report backed up the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, with the then-chair of the Senate intelligence committee, a Republican, saying: 'The Committee found no reason to dispute the Intelligence Community's conclusions.' In recent days, critics have accused Republicans of trying to turn the spotlight on Obama to distract from mounting criticism of the White House's handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Asked whether he was trying to rewrite history to distract from the Epstein news, Graham said: 'At the end of the day, I'm not calling for prosecution against President Obama for treason, but I am calling for an investigation.'

Johnson on Gaza hunger crisis: ‘Hamas has stolen the food‘
Johnson on Gaza hunger crisis: ‘Hamas has stolen the food‘

The Hill

timean hour ago

  • The Hill

Johnson on Gaza hunger crisis: ‘Hamas has stolen the food‘

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the images of people, including children, starving in Gaza 'disturbing and heartbreaking,' but insisted that Hamas 'has stolen the food,' despite reports from the Israeli military that there is no proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid. Johnson, during an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' was shown images emerging out of Gaza of children starving and was asked about Israel's decision to enact a 'tactical pause' on the fighting amid mass starvation concerns. He noted that Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., and other Israeli officials told him that Hamas has stolen 'a huge amount' of food since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. 'The images are disturbing and heartbreaking,' he said. 'We all want peace there in that region.' 'I will tell you that I have spoken to my Ambassador Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and to other Israeli officials,' Johnson added. 'This is important to note: Israel, since this war began, has supplied over 94,000 truckloads full of food. It's enough food to feed 2 million people for two years trying to get that into Gaza. But Hamas has stolen the food, a huge amount.' He also criticized 'the system,' calling it 'broken,' adding that beginning tomorrow, the IDF will open 'new channels of distribution to get it [food] to those people who are desperately in need.' 'The UN needs to work with Israel to make sure that the food is getting to the people that need it most,' he said. 'Meet the Press' Host Kristen Welker pushed back on Johnson's claim, citing a New York Times article that reported that the Israeli military never found proof that Hamas systematically stole aid from the United Nations, which is the largest supplier of emergency assistance to Gaza. Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized President Trump over his handling of Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, more aid to the territory and the freedom of all hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 'The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable,' he said.

Transcript: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 27, 2025
Transcript: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 27, 2025

CBS News

timean hour ago

  • CBS News

Transcript: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 27, 2025

The following is the transcript of an interview with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 27, 2025. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to French Foreign Minister, Jean‑Noël Barrot, who joins us this morning from Paris. Welcome to "Face The Nation." I want to begin on what is happening in Gaza with those horrific images that we are seeing of starvation overnight, Israel has begun air drops. We know Jordan, other states are looking to organize more aid. Are you exploring any further avenues to bring aid into Gaza? FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-NOËL BARROT: What's happening in Gaza right now is appalling. Gaza is- is- is now in the brink of a full catastrophe, and we've been working out, over the months, to try and relief the sufferings of the Palestinian people. We actually have 52 tons of humanitarian help stuck in El-Arish in Egypt, a few kilometers away from Gaza. So we're exploring all options to seize the opportunity offered by the Israeli government by opening the skies of Gaza, but we call for immediate, unhindered, and massive access by all means of humanitarian help to those who need it most. MARGARET BRENNAN: Has Israel responded to your calls? : We have, with the European Union, started tough discussions with the Israeli government, who have made first commitments that have not been fulfilled yet. In the next few days, the European Commission will make clear what our expectations are. We expect the Israeli government to stop the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has caused bloodbath in humanitarian help distribution lines in Gaza. We expect them to pay the 2 billion euros they owe to the Palestinian Authority and to lift the financial blockage that is now preventing the Palestinian Authority to implement its most basic missions. We also expect the Israeli government to bring to a stop its latest settlement projects, the E1 projects with 3400 housing units that might split the West Bank in two pieces and prevent the emergence of a political, a two state solution. But what we call for is, of course, the immediate cease-fire, the liberation of whole hostages of Hamas, that needs to be disarmed. And the entry, the massive entry, of humanitarian help in Gaza. MARGARET BRENNAN: You are headed to New York, to the United Nations, to help lead a summit to talk about a two state solution. Your president announced France will formally recognize the state of Palestine at the UN in September. More than 100 countries recognize Palestine, but France is the first western UN Security Council member to do so, and the United States opposes what you are saying. Secretary of State Rubio called it "reckless." He says it serves Hamas propaganda, sets back peace, and considers it "a slap in the face to the victims of October 7." In your government's view, why is he wrong? : So the reason why President Macron made this decision is that it was absolutely necessary to restart a political process, the two state solution process that was- that is today threatened, more threatened that it- it has ever been. And the conference that will take place in New York tomorrow and Tuesday is a very significant milestone, because by- by- by recognizing, or announcing the recognition of Palestine, France has been able, alongside Saudi Arabia, that has- that will be co chairing this conference with us, to collect very significant historic commitments by all stakeholders, including the Palestinian Authority president and Arab countries, in favor of the two state solution, and guarantee security guarantees for Israel. The two state solution is very simple, and I think everyone can understand what we mean by that. The only way to bring peace and stability back in this region is to have two state, the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security. This perspective is now threatened, and it's why the- the dynamic that we have initiated was so important, and this is why the conference that will take place in New York is such an important milestone. All these efforts are very, very complementary to the efforts that the U.S. have done in the region since the first term of President Trump. We share the short-term objective: immediate cease-fire, liberation of all hostages of Hamas that needs to be disarmed. We share the long term objective: peace and stability in the region. And what we're doing, by bringing the Palestinian Authority leader to recognize seventh of October as a terrorist attack, by calling the Hamas- the disarm- for the disarmament of Hamas and the liberation of hostages, by committing to deep reform of the Palestinian Authority, and by committing to elections within one year, by bringing the Arab countries for the first time to condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament, we are creating, or recreating, the conditions for this political solution that, again, is the only path forward, and we are paving the way. We're paving the way for the future Abraham Accords that the U.S. administration might lead. So I see our effort as very complementary to the U.S. administration's effort, rather than substitutes. MARGARET BRENNAN: Minister Barrot, the president of the United States dismissed what President Macron said, the U.S. Ambassador mocked it. Do you believe that your plans can succeed without U.S. support? : Again, our efforts are very complementary . We share the short term objective, cease-fire, liberation of all hostages of Hamas, and the long term objective, peace and stability in the region. In fact, we will welcome any further efforts led by the U.S. to implement the Abraham Accord logics. And what we're doing now with this very significant conference that will take place in New York will pave the way for such accords. But in the meantime, until the U.S. administration provides, through the Abraham Accord logics, a political horizon for this crisis, we need to act in order to facilitate the- or create an off ramp for the catastrophe ongoing in Gaza. Now the terms, we will welcome and support future Abraham Accords, but in the meantime, inaction is not an option. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you briefly about an incident that has gained a lot of attention this past week involving some young French citizens who were removed from a flight from Spain. The airline claims they were kicked off for being disruptive. The Israeli government came out though and said the French students were removed because they're Jewish. Have you determined whether this was indeed an act of antisemitism? : I have called the CEO of this company, who has- to express our- our serious preoccupation. She has confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing. My team has been reaching out to the ambassador of Spain in- in France, and we've made the same request. We'll keep following this situation as it unravels MARGARET BRENNAN: So too- too early to say, despite what the Israeli government is indicating. : I cannot comment on that at this point. We've taken action as- as soon as we got, you know, as we got notice of what was happening, we offered support on location through our embassy to this group. We then reached out to the- the airline company, to the Spanish authorities, and we're now following the results of these investigations. MARGARET BRENNAN: France has been very active diplomatically on a number of fronts. It was just five weeks ago when the United States and Israel bombed Iran. Since that time, France has talked to the Iranian government, along with other European powers, about what remains of Iran's nuclear program. How concerned are you that after these bombings, Iran may now covertly attempt to make a weapon, and the world won't know? : This is still a risk that we are facing, and alongside Germany and the UK, we have been very clear, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and we've been, over the past few months, reaching out to the Iranian authority in close coordination with U.S. authorities in order to express what our expectations are. Ten years ago, we reached a deal on the nuclear program that allowed for a significant rollback of Iranian nuclear capacity. Of course, things has changed. Still then, and since then, Iran has violated all commitments it had taken at the time of signing this agreement. We now want a more comprehensive agreement that would encompass both the nuclear dimension of Iranian destabilization activities, but also it's the ballistic component, as well as the regional destabilization activities that Iran has been conducting, unless we- unless a new and robust and durable and verifiable agreement is reached by the end of the summer, France, Germany and the UK will have no other choice but to reapply the global embargoes that were lifted 10 years ago when the nuclear agreement with Iran was signed, embargoes on weapons, on nuclear equipment, and on banking. MARGARET BRENNAN: So France is ready to snap back sanctions on Iran as soon as August. Are you asking Iran to speak directly to the United States in order to avoid that fate? : We've been speaking with Special Envoy Witkoff, Secretary Rubio, on a weekly basis on this topic that is highly important for the U.S., as for Europeans. We- we have supported U.S.-led efforts to enter into discussions with Iran. We have pressed Iran, after the 12 day war, to go back to a discussion with the U.S., and we'll keep pressing them to do so, because indeed, if there is no solid agreement that can be found by the end of August, we will have no other option but to snap back, meaning to reapply those global embargoes, and we are ready to do that. MARGARET BRENNAN: Minister Barrot, thank you very much for your time this morning.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store