Israeli military prepares to relocate residents to southern Gaza, spokesperson says
This comes days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban centre, in a plan that raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, home to about 2.2 million people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Sunday said that before launching the offensive, the civilian population will be evacuated to what he described as "safe zones" from Gaza City, which he called Hamas' last stronghold.
The shelter equipment will be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza by the United Nations and other international relief organisations after being inspected by defence ministry personnel, the military said.
The UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Israeli announcement, however, it warned on Thursday that thousands of families already enduring appalling humanitarian conditions could be pushed over the edge if the Gaza City plan moves ahead.
Palestinian and United Nations officials have said no place in the enclave is safe, including areas in southern Gaza where Israel has been ordering residents to move to.
The military declined to comment when asked whether the shelter equipment was intended for Gaza City's population estimated at around one million people presently, and whether the site to which they will be relocated in southern Gaza would be the area of Rafah, which borders Egypt.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the plans for the new offensive were still being formulated.
The Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, said that the military's announcement "as part of its brutal attack to occupy Gaza City, is a blatant and brazen mockery of international conventions."
However, Israeli forces have already increased operations on the outskirts of Gaza City over the past week. Residents in the neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Shejaia have reported heavy Israeli aerial and tank fire which has destroyed many houses.
The Israeli military on Friday said that it had begun a new operation in Zeitoun to locate explosives, destroy tunnels and kill militants in the area.
The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities, and 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are still alive.
Israel's subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced most of Gaza's population and left much of the enclave in ruins.
Protests calling for a hostage release and an end to the war were expected throughout Israel on Sunday, with many businesses, municipalities and universities saying they will support employees striking for the day.
Negotiations to secure a US-backed 60-day ceasefire and hostage release ended in deadlock last month and mediators Egypt and Qatar have been trying to revive them.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Protesters go on strike in Israel demanding ceasefire and hostage releases
Protesters in Israel demanding their government make a deal to secure the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza escalated their campaign on Sunday, staging a strike that disrupted traffic and closed businesses. The action, organised by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, marked a fresh push, weeks after militant groups released videos of hostages and Israel signalled plans for a new Gaza offensive. Protesters fear further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. They chanted, 'We don't win a war over the bodies of hostages' and demanded a deal. Demonstrators block a street during a protest (Mahmoud Illean/AP) 'Today, we stop everything to save and bring back the hostages and soldiers. Today, we stop everything to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life,' said Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest. 'Today, we stop everything to join hands — right, left, centre and everything in between.' Although Israel's largest labor union, Histadrut, ultimately did not join Sunday's action, strikes of this magnitude are relatively rare in Israel. Many businesses and municipalities decided independently to strike. Still, an end to the conflict does not appear near. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the immediate release of the hostages but is balancing competing pressures, haunted by the potential for mutiny within his coalition. Far-right members of his cabinet insist they will not support any deal that allows Hamas to retain power. The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages, they threatened to topple Mr Netanyahu's government. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called the stoppage 'a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas' hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.' Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, escalating strikes on Iran-backed Houthis, who since the war began have fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea. Both the IDF and a Houthi-run television station in Yemen announced the strikes. Al-Masirah Television said they targeted a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a fire and knocking it out of service. Israel's military said Sunday's strikes targeted energy infrastructure it claimed was being used by the Houthis, and were launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel. While some projectiles have breached its missile defences — notably during its war with Iran in June — Israel has intercepted the vast majority of missiles launched from Yemen. While demonstrators in Israel demanded a ceasefire, Israel began preparing for an invasion of Gaza City and other populated parts of the besieged strip, aimed at destroying Hamas. The military body that co-ordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza said on Sunday that the supply of tents to the territory would resume. Cogat said it would allow the United Nations to resume importing tents and shelter equipment into Gaza ahead of plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones 'for their protection'. Tents and the majority of assistance has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after a ceasefire collapsed. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organisations say the flow is far below what is needed. Some have accused Israel of 'weaponising aid' through blockades and rules they say turn humanitarian assistance into a tool of its political and military goals. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and displaced most of the population. The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 killed around 1,200 people in Israel. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. The ministry 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.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'You don't see Palestinians' - how Israeli media is covering the Gaza war
It's one of the defining news stories of our time, regularly dominating headlines around the world. Gaza's mounting humanitarian crisis continues to provoke outrage here in Ireland and in many other countries, as images of malnourished children, bloodstained body bags and grief-stricken survivors flood our screens and airwaves. But how is that same crisis being covered by mainstream media inside Israel? "For the most part, it simply isn't". That's the assessment of freelance journalist Orly Halpern, who has lived in Israel almost all her life. "When Israelis (turn on) the TV channels here in Israel, what they see are Israeli soldiers and a lot of destruction of Gaza - and that's about it. It's very rare that they ever interview a Gazan." "You don't see Palestinians or hear Palestinians". As a journalist working for international news organisations, Orly's reporting often focuses on the humanitarian realities of the 22-month-old Gaza war. It's the kind of coverage that would rarely get commissioned inside Israel - because she says, there isn't an appetite for it. "Israelis don't want to see that they might be doing something wrong. There's no interest, and the Israeli media is complicit in actually keeping the public ignorant of what Israel is doing." Impact of hunger crisis Orly acknowledges that there has been a small shift in public opinion in recent weeks as the hunger crisis grips Gaza, resulting in a "few" more news stories. However, she says they tend to be framed in a negative light towards Palestinians. For example, images of desperate Gazans crowding around aid trucks are portrayed in a way she says would make people think "these people are like animals". She adds that most of the reporting ends with the line, "it's Hamas' fault," without examining Israel's role in the crisis. Channel 14 - allegations of incitement The ultranationalist TV channel fast becoming Israel's most-watched news source. Channel 14, which counts Netanyahu as a supporter, has denied allegations that its coverage has incited war crimes. One ultra-nationalist TV news channel, favoured by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is accused of going further still. Channel 14 is facing multiple allegations of incitement over its coverage of the war in Gaza. Take, for example, this on-air quote from host Shimon Riklin about the Gazan people. "We should supply them with neither water nor electricity. Let them drop dead in there!" Channel 14 has previously denied allegations its coverage could incite war crimes and did not respond to RTÉ's request for comment. Nor did the other main broadcasters. Despite criticism of its coverage, Channel 14 is on track to becoming the second-most watched TV channel in Israel, according to Reporters Without Borders. "A vital light in the darkness" However, there are some exceptions in this media landscape. Most notably, left-leaning newspaper, Haaretz. Haaretz is the longest running daily newspaper currently in print in Israel, and although its circulation is relatively small, it continues to hold considerable influence both domestically and abroad. In the context of mainstream media coverage in Israel, Haaretz is considered an outlier in terms of its criticism of Israel's conduct in the war, plus its focus on Palestinian suffering. Gideon Levy is one of its columnists. "The issue is not (about) political views, not political positions," he told RTÉ News. "The issue is professional journalism." "If you open Israeli TV or mainstream newspapers, at any given moment, you would think that in Gaza there are 20 people living. You know who they are? The hostages. They are also the only victims. He describes the coverage as "shameful" and rejects any assertion that censorship is behind editorial decisions not to show the plight of Palestinians. "(The censorship) is only concerning capabilities of the army. It's nothing. Where is the censorship in Haaretz?" "You know, we used to laugh at the Russian media because of the way they are covering the war in Ukraine. But Israeli media is much worse because the Russian media has no other choice. Israeli media is free to publish whatever it wants, and they choose just to please the readers and their viewers." He does however add that there are deep concerns inside Haaretz for its future editorial independence. Last November, Israel's government approved a proposal mandating that government-funded bodies refrain from communicating with Haaretz or placing advertisements in the paper, in protest at its coverage. "They will not stop there", Gideon cautions. "I am very scared that they will try to silence us by legislation." "Until now we are still free to write whatever we want to. But I don't take our freedom for granted." Intimidation and threats Those concerns are echoed by Dr Ayala Panievsky, a researcher at City St George's, University of London. Her research focuses on threats to the media and she has recently written a book on the subject called "The New Censorship". Dr Panievsky previously worked in left-leaning Israeli politics but has spent recent years monitoring and analysing Israeli news output. And while she agrees with Gideon Levy that there isn't much formal censorship, she also believes an underlying atmosphere of political intimidation could be forcing some journalists to self-censor. "It's not old-school censorship in terms of raids on newsrooms or jailing journalists. Not yet. But it is certainly all these other forms of intimidation, threats and incitement of the public against journalists." "Successive Governments and allies have been threatening journalists and newsrooms using all kinds of different weapons. They are threatening news outlets' financial stability, they are using legal warfare, they are suing journalists and newsrooms." This point is also highlighted in the RSF - Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. Since 2022, Israel has dropped from 86th to 112th in the index, in part due to "disinformation campaigns and repressive laws" It also points out that "journalists identified as Arab face more intimidation while working and foreign journalists are experiencing increasing difficulty obtaining accreditation." National trauma So, what else could be behind the Israeli media's apparent hands-off approach to the Gaza humanitarian crisis? Dr Panievsky suggests the events of 7 October, when Hamas-led gunmen stormed into southern Israel killing and taking people hostage, are still foremost in many people's minds. "For sure, there is the national trauma of 7 October and everything that happened since. And I must say that when it comes to 7 October and the human suffering, the Israeli mainstream media has done a very comprehensive professional job covering it… Now the media continues to focus on the stories of the hostages, but not the other side." "Also, in times of war, people are rarely asking to see the casualties on the other side. But this is reality. And if you're not showing us that, then you are not a journalist, you're an entertainer." For journalist Orly Halpern, the prospect of military service may also be a factor in the media's approach. "Everyone here, all the men, have to continue doing reserve duty until they're 45. So, it's just much easier to believe what your leaders are telling you about the war and not question it. I think deep down, people probably know. But they continue to reject it because it's just too much." "There's an expression in Hebrew, יורים ובוכים. It means 'we shoot and we cry'. So yes, we're killing innocent people, and we feel bad about it. But you know, we're just doing what we need to do for this military campaign etcetera. "But what we're seeing now is that for the most part, we aren't even crying. We're just shooting."
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: Joanna Donnelly's case shows the problem with bureaucracy
As someone who worked and managed in the public sector, my own experience is of a constant battle by innovative people frustrated by controls used by conservative managers. Many of our civil service and public sector organisations perform well, but this conservatism has grown in recent years, partly because of the often public humiliation of managers who released control and then it backfired. RTÉ, An Garda Síochána and charities are examples of organisations that and must be answerable to the public, but they also need to be innovative and responsive. The Government would do well to stop public humiliations of senior staff of organisations at public hearings. The temptation for TDs to showboat at the expense of managers who may have made mistakes but are not guilty of crimes is irresistible. So the Government should think about the damage these public inquiries do in organisations, which respond naturally by increasing bureaucracy to ensure they do not face such an onslaught. This does not serve the public well in the long run. Kevin Kelly, Bettystown, Co Meath History demands we take action on Gaza Madam — I sympathise most profoundly with Naoise Dolan ('I've fasted, protested and donated for Gaza — none of it is enough', August 10). Those with the power to stop Israel refuse to do so. The rest of us can march, write and plead, but it is all to no avail. What I find appalling is the acquiescence of the West in what is happening. I used to consider the West to have certain immutable values to which I could subscribe, but now? For years we have been hearing criticisms of China, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran and various other states for their perceived failings. However, the need to support Israel has permeated the Western consciousness so much that leaders have allowed it a free hand to do what it wants. Even now, with all independent observers calling the present activity genocide, many refuse to acknowledge the facts before their eyes and decline to put any worthwhile pressure on Israel. In other words, genocide is acceptable if it is yours friends who are doing it. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The fact that the EU refuses to look at the EU-Israel Trade Agreement is utterly shameful. I fully understand the Irish Government's caution in dealing with the Occupied Territories Bill, and, if it is enacted, we would undoubtedly take an economic hit, with some people losing their jobs. However, our history demands that we take this action irrespective of what others think. Let others stand by if they must. Of the Palestinians, I am reminded of a line from a lovely Co Derry song: 'from calamity and famine may heaven defend them' Certainly nobody else will. Anthony Hanrahan, Salruck, Renvyle, Co Galway Netanyahu is sowing seeds of new Hamas Madam — In relation to the article by Tsela Rubel ('There is a sense that the world has minimised the horror of October 7', August 10), I understand why she and many other Israelis may be confused, as the true horror of what the Netanyahu regime is inflicting on the people of Gaza has yet to be revealed. While I can understand prime minister Netanyahu's desire to disarm Hamas, I believe his tactics are breeding a new Hamas, under a different name, among those children who are suffering today. Martin Tully, Skerries, Co Dublin What if Celts did the same as Zionists? Madam — On the subject of Zionism and the lesson given to me by Jason Fitzharris about its supposedly legitimate plantations in historical Palestine (Letters, August 107), perhaps Celts should develop an ideology of Celtism to advocate regaining the lands taken from them by Anglo-Saxons in the fifth and sixth centuries in what is now called England. Daltún Ó Ceallaigh, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Loyal service must count for something Madam — I have never met Joanna Donnelly, but she sounds like a brave, honest and hard-working woman. The details of why she left her dream job are ridiculous. It seems that Joanna, an independent, educated and well-respected woman, 'was not entitled to make a decision, without permission, in the best interest of the office and my colleagues'. How are women supposed to strive for better if this is the situation after 30 years of dedicated and loyal service? Thank you, Joanna, for sharing your story as promised. I am so sorry for all the stress and trauma you endured, and I wish you all the best with your many future enjoyable and creative endeavours. Gabrielle Gourlie, Wexford Avoid looking back in anger, Joanna Madam — Having read Joanna Donnelly's article about her experience as a civil servant, I would like to offer her some advice. She made the right decision to leave the job, but now needs to avoid looking back in anger. The power imbalance is so embedded that any individual effort to effect change is doomed to fail. Grace O'Reilly, Roscommon Children's safety in sport is paramount Madam — Ken Foxe's article about Sport Ireland's consultation on trans women's participation in female sport ('Sports bodies feared loss of funding over transgender review', August 10) reminded me of an incident that happened when my son played rugby. Our opponents had a player who was not only huge, but highly mobile. Our backs were swatted like flies. A number of injuries resulted from the impacts — broken bones and concussion. The opposing coach was asked to prove the youngster involved was in the appropriate age group. He was. Even in defined age groups, the physical difference can be immense. The difference between biological females and males is a chasm. The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) banned trans women and girls over the age of 12 from playing female contact rugby in 2022. At the time, managing solicitor Sinéad Lucey of Free Legal Advice Centres said: 'The IRFU is subject to the Equal Status Acts, which prohibit discrimination — including differences in treatment on the basis that someone is transgender.' She added that 'the IRFU receives significant financial support from the State. It is imperative that the Government… ensure that such organisations comply with equality law....' The survey by Sports Ireland shows that individuals and sports organisations feel they have the Sword of Damocles hanging over them, not only in terms of financial penalties and the legal ramifications, but personal ignominy. They clearly do not think the Government has their back. Children's safety in sport, not financial or legal implications, should be the only concern. Andy Hales, Kenmare, Co Kerry Colm O'Rourke has to explain himself Madam — Colm O'Rourke's answer to the split season is to do away with the provincial championships, while also having a jibe at the Ulster championship, which we are all used to from him ('There must be a better way to run split season, Sport, August 101). This comes from a man whose previous answer to Dublin's dominance was to split the county in two and so create more county matches. Explain. Martin McAreavey, Co Antrim Ideology is behind education reforms Madam — Enda Cullen (Letters, August 10) states that what's shifting isn't ideology, but the global educational environment. But what is causing the global educational environment to shift? It's ideology, namely the influence of critical social justice theory and specifically critical pedagogy in modern education. This is evident in the trend of many young people seeing everything through the lens of 'oppressor' and 'oppressed' and not in terms of class, but in terms of every other possible form of 'identity'. Many parents who are in their 40s and 50s and consider themselves liberal will recognise the confusion of realising that their once reasonable and progressive views are now considered problematic by their children, (and maybe even 'far right' in the wider world) and how there is only one acceptable viewpoint on a range of topics, with no questioning allowed. It's all part of the same shift. Education must be about providing children with facts and teaching them how to think, not what to think. E Bolger, Dublin 9 Ciara Kelly sent me to the dictionary Madam — Female authors and journalists frequently send me to the dictionary to find the meanings of words I don't understand. The exception was Ciara Kelly, until last Sunday, when she forced me to look up the acronym 'IYKYK'. If you don't know, you can look it up yourself. I'm not telling you. Mattie Lennon, Blessington, Co Wicklow Show zero tolerance to attacks on Indians Madam — It is very disturbing to read about and listen to the racist trauma being visited upon our Indian community. Having to postpone their India Day event scheduled for today at Farmleigh House reflects a troubling drift in Irish society in how we deal with neighbours of a different heritage. In very recent times, I have more than once been calmed and encouraged by an Indian anaesthetist as she put me to 'sleep' in a Dublin operating theatre. On each of these visits, I have woke up to the reassuring and caring voice of an Indian nurse. Inevitably, the day will come when a loved one or an older family member of the perpetrators of these increasing racist attacks will be very grateful to hear a soothing and supportive Indian voice. I wish the agitators would realise that now. In the meantime, there must be zero tolerance of their nastiness. Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Kilkenny Our Indian friends deserve support Madam — As Azmia Riaz reports ('This kind of racism used to shock us, but now we've come to expect it', August 10), the recent unprovoked attacks on Indian citizens in Ireland is shocking. As a healthcare worker, I appreciate the contribution my Indian nurse colleagues make each day. I believe we need to go further than be merely shocked by these attacks by a racist minority. I hope we can actively show solidarity to our Indian community by speaking up for them when ill-informed comments are made, or offer to take our Indian neighbours out for a coffee. Frank Browne, Templeogue, Dublin 16 Neutrality does not rest on triple lock Madam — What a surprise to see your letter of the week (August 10) from Edward Horgan regarding Irish neutrality. Once more a platform is given to Sinn Féin falsehoods about conscription. The biggest falsehood of all is linking the triple lock to neutrality. They are separate issues. The triple lock allows foreign governments such as those of Russia, China and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council to dictate to us, a sovereign nation, where we may send our armed forces and the numbers we may send to aid in the protection of our country and continent. The removal of the UN Security Council mandate would not affect our neutrality one iota because any deployment of our troops would still require the approval of the Government and the Dáil. Brendan Hogan, Kilmore, Co Wexford Let soldiers refuse to serve overseas Madam — I agree with Edward Horgan when he says: 'Like the majority of Irish citizens, I believe that active Irish neutrality is by far the best way to protect the best interests and security of the Irish people.' I also contend that not only should the triple lock be retained, but we should repeal the provision in the Irish Defence (Amendment) Act of 2006 that allows Irish soldiers to be sent on a wide variety of overseas missions whether they wish to or not. Irish soldiers should not be commanded to serve abroad if they have conscientious objections to shooting designated perceived foes in faraway countries. Joe Terry, Blarney, Co Cork Cricket may not be as English as all that Madam — As an Irish nationalist, I have always loved cricket ('Sinn Féin's cricket test: get unionists on side with an all-island success story', August 10). On the so-called Tebbit test, I have always cheered for England in cricket, unless they were playing Ireland. With so many English friends, my affection for them outweighs any prejudice I might have. Sam McBride's advocacy for cricket is welcome, though I would add that the old Irish game of catty was surely its forerunner — a reminder that this 'quintessentially English' sport may, in fact, be an Irish export. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Drew Harris was unfairly treated Madam — Shane Ross in his column ('I have a few words of advice for the new top cop in town', August 3) hits the nail on head in many ways. I fear that much of the hostility against outgoing commissioner Drew Harris arose from the fact that he is a former member of the PSNI and a northern Presbyterian — in other words, an 'outsider'. If this type of opposition to external appointees applied across the board, we would never have had Mary McAleese as president or Gabriel Makhlouf as governor of our Central Bank. If this is a harbinger of what 'the other tradition' might expect in a united Ireland, I am fearful. We must all thank Mr Harris for his service and wish him well in his retirement.
