Latest news with #IanWoods
ITV News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
'Tehran will burn': Israel vows further attacks on Iran if airstrikes continue
After a tense few days of exchanged blows, Israel and Iran have never appeared to close to the brink of war, ITV News' Ian Woods reports Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the people in Tehran will 'pay a heavy price' if Iran continues with its missile attacks, warning that the Iranian capital 'will burn.' It comes after Iran bombarded Tel Aviv with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases. Air raid sirens sounded out across Israel and its citizens were ordered to move into bomb shelters, as the attack began on Friday night. The skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were lit up throughout the night by incoming missiles, interceptor rockets and explosions, with both sides reporting casualties while threatening that more was to come. A plume of smoke could be seen rising from central Tel Aviv amid the barrage, after at least one Iranian missile appeared to bypass the iron dome missile defence system. Israel's paramedic service said two people were killed and another 19 people were injured after Iranian missiles struck the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces has said it is continuing to airstrikes on targets in Iran, just over 24 hours since it's initial strike which the army claims killed three Iranian military commanders. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stressed his country's fight was not against the Iranian people. "Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you," he said. "The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard." Operation Rising Lion – the offensive against Tehran – has mainly targeted nuclear sites, including destroying the above ground section of Iran's main Natanz nuclear base. Some 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Iran, according to its ambassador to the UN. The attack is believed to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Netanyahu said 'more is on the way' in a video message released on Friday night. Danny Dannon, Israel's UN ambassador, claimed the operation was launched because Iran was 'within days' of having the capability of building nuclear weapons. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed revenge against Israel in a recorded message on Friday, saying: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' Tehran has warned the US, the UK and France not to help Israel stop Iran's strikes, according to Iranian state media. Israel's attack came after years of threats and days of heightened speculation – but without the United States' blessing. Donald Trump's administration, which has been working to persuade Iran to give up its uranium enrichment programme, stressed that Israel acted unilaterally and that Washington was 'not involved'. It comes after the president wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday that he had given Iran a "60 day ultimatum" two months ago to "make a deal", warning them "it would be much worse than anything they know" if they failed to do so. "Certain Iranian hardliner's spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse... Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left," he added. In a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's minister of foreign affairs, claimed Israel's strikes were the 'result of the direct support by Washington". There was no immediate word from the White House after Araghchi's comments. The US and Iran were scheduled to meet in Oman on Sunday for their sixth round of indirect talks over Iran's nuclear program, but Israel's attack raised doubts about whether the negotiations would proceed. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the need to 'de-escalate' the conflict between Israel and Iran, having spoken to Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday afternoon. 'They discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate,' a Downing Street spokesperson said. Foreign Secretary David Lammy was expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East and elsewhere.
ITV News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Israel confirms plans to seize all of Gaza and stay indefinitely, officials say
Israel has approved plans to seize the entire Gaza Strip and stay in the territory for an unspecified amount of time, Israeli officials have said. Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early Monday vote, hours after the military chief announced the mobilisation of tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. Officials said the plan involves the 'capturing of the strip and the holding of territories," as well as preventing Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel claims strengthens the militant group's control. Israel also accuses Hamas of hoarding aid to bolster its capabilities. The plan, which would be implemented gradually, includes targeted strikes against Hamas, according to Israeli officials. Additionally, Israel is in discussions with several countries regarding US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population, a proposal Israel refers to as 'voluntary emigration,' though it has faced condemnation from European and Arab allies. If carried out, the move would significantly widen Israel's operations in Gaza and likely provoke strong international opposition. For weeks, Israel has been increasing pressure on Hamas to push for more flexibility in ceasefire talks. However, international mediators trying to broker a new deal have faced difficulties, as Israel's actions do not appear to have shifted Hamas' stance on negotiations. Since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapsed in mid-March, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has carried out intense airstrikes that have killed hundreds. It has captured large portions of Gaza, now controlling around 50% of the territory. Following the collapse of the ceasefire, Israel halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food, fuel, and water, triggering what is considered the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war. As Israel's blockade on supplies into Gaza enters it's third month, desperate scenes of hunger and need can be seen across the territory as ITV News' Ian Woods reported on Sunday The UN warned that Israel's plan could leave large parts of the population, especially the most vulnerable, without essential supplies, describing it as a "pressure tactic" to "reinforce control over life-sustaining resources" as part of a military strategy. The US government has expressed clear support for Israel's plan, but it remains uncertain who would fund the private military companies or provide the aid. Oxfam and UNICEF have both reported widespread disease and malnutrition in Gaza, with families rummaging through "piles of rubbish" to feed their children. Since the beginning of the year, over 9,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, according to the UN. The ban on aid has caused widespread hunger and led to looting due to severe shortages.
ITV News
04-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Families in Gaza search 'piles of rubbish' to feed children as food shortage worsens, charities say
As Israel's blockade on supplies into Gaza enters it's third month, desperate scenes of hunger and need can be seen across the territory as ITV News' Ian Woods reports Chronic food shortages due to Israel's blockade could add to the large number of Palestinians dying in Gaza, humanitarian charities said. Oxfam and UNICEF said disease and malnutrition are now common place in Gaza as families search through "piles of rubbish" to feed their children. The blockade of aid into Gaza is part of Israel's efforts to force Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire while 2.3 million people have been plunged into the worst humanitarian crisis of the war. Since the start of the year more than 9,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, according to the UN. Ghada Alhaddad from Oxfam based in Gaza said: "We've seen starvation used as a weapon of war, not only not allowing the aid into the Gaza strip but also destroying agriculture and land and destroying anyway for Palestinians trying to produce their own food." She said the situation is getting "worse and worse by the day" since Israel shut the boarders two months ago. "Almost nothing has entered the Gaza Strip. We've seen people, elderly, children, and all vulnerable communities in the Gaza Strip are starving because there is nothing in the market." She said: "Essential food items like milk, eggs, fruits, dairies, protein sources like beef and the chicken have disappeared from the market" and most items are now "really, really expensive and it is beyond affordable." Dr Yasser Abu Ghaly, who works in the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, said: "The is no meat in the market no source of protein canned food is running out there's no nutrition at all even healthy children with no diseases are starting to come to us showing signs of lack of food, weakness, frailty and repeated gastric flu." Ms Alhaddad explained how families, including herself, are rationing food and skipping meals. Some families have resorted to looking through piles of rubble and rubbish to find anything to feed their children. Tess Ingram, UNICEF spokesperson for the Middle east and North Africa, said: "Families are searching throughout the rubble of homes and buildings, on the street, through piles of rubbish to try and find food to eat, supplies to give their children." "We're seeing rising cases of malnutrition among children, particularly young children." "We've run out of the supplies that we give children to prevent malnutrition already, and these treatment supplies are almost out," she added. "The places where children can go for treatment have diminished. We've gone from 200 treatment centres down to 120." An 8-week ceasefire with the Hamas militant group allowed more aid into Gaza and freed some Israeli hostages, but it collapsed in March when Israel resumed strikes. Israel says there should be enough food because supplies were allowed into Gaza during the ceasefire period earlier in the year. In response Ms Alhaddad from Oxfam described the aid that came in during the pause in flighting as "a drop in an ocean of need." "Most of the aid supplies that got into Gaza during the ceasefire didn't cover the minimum needs of Gaza's people. "We are talking about two months without getting anything into the Gaza Strip. So it is catastrophic. "Most humanitarian actors in the Gaza Strip have stated that their food and their aid has depleted. We at Oxfam distributed the last food parcel on April 20." She described how water facilities had also been bombed so access to fresh water has become even more limited. Ms Ingram from UNICEF said: "75% of families says water access has become harder in the last four weeks alone. "They're really struggling to find safe water to drink and often having to resort to unsafe drinking water. This is causing a rise in disease." She added: "We're now on day 62 of not a drop of grain, not a drop of water entering the Gaza Strip. And every day that that goes on, the less families have to eat, the less they have to drink and the more we will see suffering rise. Disease, malnutrition and death." The situation is likely to get worst as Israel votes on whether to expand its fighting in Gaza. On Sunday ahead of the cabinet vote, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a missile which landed near the international airport in Tel Aviv. Four people were injured while flights and traffic were briefly halted as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would respond to the attack. Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven Palestinians, including parents and their children, ages 2 and 4, in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian medics said. The military had no comment. Israel's offensive has killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, many of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages where 59 remain captive, Israel said.
