Days After Pledging a New Attack in Gaza, Israel's Plan Is Still Unclear
Now, a new criticism is emerging within Israel: There is little clarity over what exactly this operation will involve.
While there have been vague proclamations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's military has yet to complete the tactical battle plan. There has been no public confirmation of how long any occupation of the city will last — or when it will begin, and how it will differ from Israel's capture of Gaza City in the opening months of the war in 2023.
Intense Israeli strikes continued overnight into Monday, killing several Al Jazeera journalists and forcing the displacement of civilians in some Gaza City neighborhoods. But the Army has not yet mobilized the tens of thousands of military reservists who will most likely be needed to staff the broader operation. And while Israel has threatened to force out the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still living in Gaza City, it has yet to order their expulsion.
Over the weekend, Mr. Netanyahu doubled down on the threat to capture Gaza City, saying at a press briefing that Israel had 'no choice' but to proceed because Hamas had yet to surrender.
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Anas al-Sharif's Last Words Before Israeli Strike Killed Him
Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who was killed by a targeted Israeli airstrike on August 11, 2025, reports near the Arab Ahli (Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City on October 10, 2024. Credit - AFP via Getty Images Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, alongside four of his colleagues. Before his death, the 28-year-old had prepared a final message to be released posthumously. 'This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice,' he wrote in a message shared Sunday. 'I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification,' it continued. 'Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance,' it said. Al-Sharif leaves behind a wife and two young children. In a statement announcing the killing of al-Sharif, the IDF said he was the 'head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops.' It shared images of what it claimed was a Hamas roster list and injury record with his name on both. TIME has not been able to independently verify these claims. Al Jazeera condemned the killings, calling the attack a 'targeted assassination' and a 'blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.' 'Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people,' the Qatari network said in a statement. Al-Sharif had faced threats and allegations of ties to Hamas from the Israeli army for nearly a year before his death, but they intensified following a broadcast in July in which he broke down crying while reporting on Gaza's hunger crisis. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused him of crying 'crocodile tears' and of being part of a 'false Hamas campaign on starvation.' Al Jazeera rejected the claims as 'baseless'. The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement describing Adraee's statements as 'unfounded accusations [that] represent an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif,' and noted that Israel had killed four other Al Jazeera journalists about whom they had made similar statements. In messages sent to TIME in late July, during reporting for a separate story, al-Sharif said the IDF's allegations left him infear for his life. 'I live with the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment,' he wrote in one message. 'These threats are clear incitement and an attempt to assassinate my voice, either through bombing or moral distortion,' he added. Al-Sharif, who had covered the war from the first days of the conflict, told TIME how he had received direct calls from Israeli military officers demanding that he stop his coverage and leave northern Gaza. He also received WhatsApp messages that detailed his precise whereabouts, which he considered a threat to his life. TIME has contacted an IDF spokesperson for comment. Deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded The airstrike that killed him struck a tent being used by media near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. It also killed Al Jazeera staff members Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Al Thaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohamed Nofal, as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. Their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 186—180 of those journalists being Palestinian, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Hundreds gathered at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the Gaza Strip to mourn the five journalists on Monday. The airstrike came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a planned military offensive into some of Gaza's most populated areas, including Gaza City, where the team was based. CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah accused Israel of 'murdering the messengers,' in a statement condemning the strike. 'Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. That's murder. Plain and simple,' she said. 'It is no coincidence that the smears against al-Sharif — who has reported night and day for Al Jazeera since the start of the war — surfaced every time he reported on a major development in the war, most recently the starvation brought about by Israel's refusal to allow sufficient aid into the territory,' Qudah added. The CPJ has previously called the Gaza war the 'deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented.' Reporting on hunger Al-Sharif was a mainstay of Al Jazeera's rolling coverage of the Gaza war and one of its best known correspondents. In the video about starvation that drew the condemnation of the IDF, al-Sharif cries as a woman collapses from hunger behind him. 'They need only one meal. They need one loaf of bread. They need one sip of water,' he said, his voice breaking. Nearly 200 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza, including at least 96 children, according to Gaza's health ministry. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)'s latest update concluded that 'mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths,' and famine thresholds have been met for food consumption across most of Gaza. In his last video, al-Sharif reported on heavy airstrikes nearby. On the broadcast, he can he heard saying: 'Nonstop bombing… For the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified.' After October 2023, Israel prohibited foreign journalists from entering Gaza. In the absence of international reporters, much of the reporting on the war has fallen to Palestinian journalists on the ground, often risking their own lives and safety in the process. Reporting from the frontlines, they have faced the same losses and destruction as the communities they document, including the destruction of their homes and the deaths of loved ones. Al-Sharif's father, Jamal al-Sharif, was killed in a strike in December 2023 while he was praying, according to messages al-Sharif sent TIME in July. Due to the ongoing shelling, he was forced to bury his father in a schoolyard because he could not reach the cemetery safely. While on-air in October 2024, he found out about the deaths of his own relatives while reporting for Al Jazeera. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the group killed over 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Contact us at letters@
Newsweek
16 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Satellite Photo Shows Israel Military Buildup Near Gaza
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New satellite imagery reveals a significant buildup of Israeli troops and military equipment near the Gaza border, signaling preparations for a major ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave. The deployment comes after Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, raising the stakes in an already volatile conflict and intensifying fears of a broader and more destructive escalation. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Israel's Foreign Ministry. Why It Matters The buildup highlights an intensifying Israeli military posture amid a fragile and volatile situation in Gaza. Israel's plan to take over Gaza City likely will require a large-scale ground offensive that has alarmed stakeholders in the region. The trajectory of the yearslong conflict now points to a potentially broader and more destructive phase, which could escalate humanitarian suffering and complicate diplomatic relations with Israel's allies including the United States. Imagery dated August 7, 2025, and released by the Chinese satellite firm MizarVision shows the buildup of Israeli military forces at the Karni crossing near northeastern Gaza. Imagery dated August 7, 2025, and released by the Chinese satellite firm MizarVision shows the buildup of Israeli military forces at the Karni crossing near northeastern Gaza. MizarVision What To Know Imagery released this week by a Chinese satellite firm MizarVision showed a growing concentration of Israeli military hardware at the Karni crossing into northeastern Gaza on August 7. The photo appeared to show movements and formations that were consistent with preparations for a significant ground assault. Israeli forces have been conducting ground operations in Gaza since late October 2023, after Hamas militants inflicted the deadliest attack on Israel in its history. There have been occasional pauses for ceasefires, but the new buildup shows Israel is gearing up to seize territory and target Hamas strongholds. A Palestinian boy pushes a cart loaded with jerrycans of water after collecting it at a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 19, 2025. A Palestinian boy pushes a cart loaded with jerrycans of water after collecting it at a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 19, 2025. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo Israel's Plan Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City early Friday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. While the plan does not extend to full occupation of the Gaza Strip, it marks a strategic escalation aimed at weakening Hamas's hold over the area. Israel closed the Karni crossing in 2011 and completed the final phase of demolition work in 2022. It had been a terminal for goods and humanitarian aid into Gaza but now forms part of the Iron Wall, further tightening the blockade around the small Palestinian territory. Netanyahu has outlined a vision to dismantle Hamas and establish a security perimeter around Gaza rather than govern the enclave directly. Speaking on Fox News, Netanyahu said, "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel." Discord Between U.S. and Israel The military buildup comes amid disagreements between the Israel and the its strongest international backer the United States. NBC News reported a recent private phone call between Netanyahu and Donald Trump, in which the U.S. president shouted at his Israeli counterpart over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.- and Israeli-supported relief initiative. Officials familiar with the call described the tensions as emblematic of strained relations between the two governments at a critical moment in the conflict. Trump has publicly contradicted Netanyahu's assurances about Gaza's humanitarian conditions. While Netanyahu has said there is no starvation in Gaza, Trump has stated otherwise. What People Are Saying Displaced Palestinians travel on carts and vehicles through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/) Displaced Palestinians travel on carts and vehicles through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/) Jehad Alshrafi/AP Photo Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel. That's what we want to do." U.S. President Donald Trump: "I have seen images of children in Gaza who look very hungry. There is real starvation there and you can't fake that." What Happens Next With Israel's security cabinet approval and the confirmed troop buildup, the likelihood of a significant ground offensive in Gaza is increasing. The coming weeks could see intensified fighting, efforts to free hostages and mounting humanitarian challenges. At the same time, the diplomatic strains between the U.S. and Israel may influence both military and relief operations.
Time Magazine
16 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Anas al-Sharif's Last Words Before Israeli Strike Killed Him
Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, alongside four of his colleagues. Before his death, the 28-year-old had prepared a final message to be released posthumously. 'This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice,' he wrote in a message shared Sunday. 'I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification,' it continued. 'Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance,' it said. Al-Sharif leaves behind a wife and two young children. In a statement announcing the killing of al-Sharif, the IDF said he was the 'head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops.' It shared images of what it claimed was a Hamas roster list and injury record with his name on both. TIME has not been able to independently verify these claims. Al Jazeera condemned the killings, calling the attack a 'targeted assassination' and a 'blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.' 'Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people,' the Qatari network said in a statement. Al-Sharif had faced threats and allegations of ties to Hamas from the Israeli army for nearly a year before his death, but they intensified following a broadcast in July in which he broke down crying while reporting on Gaza's hunger crisis. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused him of crying 'crocodile tears' and of being part of a 'false Hamas campaign on starvation.' Al Jazeera rejected the claims as 'baseless'. The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement describing Adraee's statements as 'unfounded accusations [that] represent an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif,' and noted that Israel had killed four other Al Jazeera journalists about whom they had made similar statements. In messages sent to TIME in late July, during reporting for a separate story, al-Sharif said the IDF's allegations left him infear for his life. 'I live with the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment,' he wrote in one message. 'These threats are clear incitement and an attempt to assassinate my voice, either through bombing or moral distortion,' he added. Al-Sharif, who had covered the war from the first days of the conflict, told TIME how he had received direct calls from Israeli military officers demanding that he stop his coverage and leave northern Gaza. He also received WhatsApp messages that detailed his precise whereabouts, which he considered a threat to his life. TIME has contacted an IDF spokesperson for comment. Deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded The airstrike that killed him struck a tent being used by media near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. It also killed Al Jazeera staff members Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Al Thaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohamed Nofal, as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. Their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 186—180 of those journalists being Palestinian, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Hundreds gathered at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the Gaza Strip to mourn the five journalists on Monday. The airstrike came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a planned military offensive into some of Gaza's most populated areas, including Gaza City, where the team was based. CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah accused Israel of 'murdering the messengers,' in a statement condemning the strike. 'Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. That's murder. Plain and simple,' she said. 'It is no coincidence that the smears against al-Sharif — who has reported night and day for Al Jazeera since the start of the war — surfaced every time he reported on a major development in the war, most recently the starvation brought about by Israel's refusal to allow sufficient aid into the territory,' Qudah added. The CPJ has previously called the Gaza war the 'deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented.' Reporting on hunger Al-Sharif was a mainstay of Al Jazeera's rolling coverage of the Gaza war and one of its best known correspondents. In the video about starvation that drew the condemnation of the IDF, al-Sharif cries as a woman collapses from hunger behind him. 'They need only one meal. They need one loaf of bread. They need one sip of water,' he said, his voice breaking. Nearly 200 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza, including at least 96 children, according to Gaza's health ministry. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)'s latest update concluded that 'mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths,' and famine thresholds have been met for food consumption across most of Gaza. In his last video, al-Sharif reported on heavy airstrikes nearby. On the broadcast, he can he heard saying: 'Nonstop bombing… For the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified.' After October 2023, Israel prohibited foreign journalists from entering Gaza. In the absence of international reporters, much of the reporting on the war has fallen to Palestinian journalists on the ground, often risking their own lives and safety in the process. Reporting from the frontlines, they have faced the same losses and destruction as the communities they document, including the destruction of their homes and the deaths of loved ones. Al-Sharif's father, Jamal al-Sharif, was killed in a strike in December 2023 while he was praying, according to messages al-Sharif sent TIME in July. Due to the ongoing shelling, he was forced to bury his father in a schoolyard because he could not reach the cemetery safely. While on-air in October 2024, he found out about the deaths of his own relatives while reporting for Al Jazeera. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the group killed over 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
