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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Israeli cabinet may order complete Gaza takeover
Israel's cabinet could authorise on Tuesday a complete military takeover of Gaza for the first time in two decades, media reported. The move would come despite international pressure for a ceasefire to ease appalling conditions in the besieged Palestinian territory. Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is leaning towards an expanded offensive and taking control of the entire enclave after 22 months of war against Hamas, Israeli Channel 12 reported. A senior Israeli source told Reuters on Monday that more force was an option following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas. READ MORE Seizing the entire territory would reverse a 2005 decision by Israel to pull settlers and military out of Gaza while retaining control over its borders – a move right-wing parties blame for Hamas gaining power there. It was unclear, however, whether a potential full takeover of Gaza would entail a prolonged occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing hostages. [ Gaza is also a war on the human instinct for compassion Opens in new window ] The Israeli military was expected on Tuesday to present alternatives that include extending into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated, according to two defence officials. Israel's coalition government is regarded as one of the most right-wing in its history, with the cabinet including parties that seek to annex both Gaza and the West Bank and encourage Palestinians to leave their homeland. The country's military has throughout the war pushed back against the idea of Israel trying to fully occupy Gaza and establish military rule there, which would require it to take over long-term governance. The military has also struggled with manpower issues as the war has dragged on, with reservists being repeatedly called up and putting a strain on capabilities. The conflict was triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, when gunmen stormed the border from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people and seizing around 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign has devastated the tiny, crowded enclave, killing more than 60,000 people according to Palestinian health authorities. It has forced nearly all of Gaza's over two million people from their homes and caused what a global hunger monitor called last week an unfolding famine. That has caused widespread international anger and prompted several European countries to say they would recognise a Palestinian state next month if there was no ceasefire. Inside Gaza on Tuesday, Israeli gunfire and strikes killed at least 13 Palestinians, local health authorities said, including five people in a tent in Khan Younis and three aid seekers near Rafah in the south. Israeli tanks pushed into central Gaza earlier on Tuesday but it was not clear if the move was part of a larger ground offensive. Palestinians living in the last fifth of the territory where Israel has not yet taken military control via ground incursions or orders for civilians to leave said any new move to occupy the area would be catastrophic. A Palestinian official close to the talks and mediation said Israeli threats could be a way to pressure Hamas to make concessions at the negotiation table. 'It will only complicate the negotiation further, at the end, the resistance factions will not accept less than an end to the war, and a full withdrawal from Gaza,' he told Reuters. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said last week he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. But Israeli officials have also floated ideas including expanding the offensive and annexing parts of Gaza. The failed ceasefire talks in Doha had aimed to clinch agreements on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day truce, during which aid would be flown into Gaza and half of the hostages Hamas is holding would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel. – Reuters
Al Manar
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Metula Still Deserted Months After War: Settlers Slam Zionist Government Over Inaction
More than four months after the war ended, the Metula settlement remains eerily deserted. A passenger bus travels nine times a day without a single rider, symbolizing the ongoing abandonment. Israeli Channel 12 reports that two-thirds of Metula's houses—around 460 residences—were damaged by resistance missiles, with one-third set for total demolition. The cost of reconstruction is estimated at $500 million, yet only one in ten residents has returned due to the extensive devastation. Stagnant Reconstruction and Public Discontent The report highlighted that repair efforts remain stalled in Israeli bureaucratic red tape, with growing public frustration over the government's handling of the situation. The government faces accusations of neglect and inaction in supporting the northern residents. 'Tourists have returned to the north in large numbers for Passover, but most residents have not. Over a year and a half after the area was evacuated and four and a half months after the ceasefire, Mettula remains devastated and empty. Two-thirds of its homes are damaged, and warnings of security risks persist. The completion of alternative sites is delayed, and repairs to the border fence remain incomplete,' a Zionist Channel 12 anchor noted. 'In this reality, nine out of ten Mettula residents have no intention of returning,' the report concluded. Local Leader Criticizes Government Response David Azulay, the head of the Metula local council, directed his anger at the government, saying, 'This is the worst government we've known in times of war. It disappeared during the battle and, unfortunately, disappeared again when we needed it most during the reconstruction phase.' 'A home not examined by a qualified engineer is considered lightly damaged and can be repaired in just 21 days—yet the reality is completely different,' he explained. 'To begin repairs, we need an engineering inspection, followed by a report submitted to the income tax department, and then approval, which can take four to five months. In the end, they tell us repairs take three weeks! It's a joke. We're receiving only 60 to 70% of the damage compensation, which is insufficient. We hope the government stops fighting us, as it hasn't helped us at all,' Azulay added. Frustration Mounts Over Bureaucracy Other Metula residents also voiced their disappointment with the government's handling of the situation. Anna Rubinstein, a Zionist resident of the settlement, said, 'The delay in repairing our home is due to bureaucracy. The damage assessor came on December 9, and since then, we've had to hire an engineer multiple times and conduct laboratory tests to determine whether we'll have to demolish the roof. We still don't have any answers.' 'I'm a fourth-generation resident here. The government has humiliated us. Before the war, a cell infiltrated from the Shebaa Farms, and it was not neutralized. It was forced to flee, and the fence was torn apart every few days without any action. Officials don't want to give up their seats, and the state is bankrupt. We have no place in it. Who built this state? Was it the right-wing ministers or those who worked with their hands? They're stealing everything,' Zionist Metula resident Moshe Feinstein expressed his outrage. Ongoing Security Concerns Delay Return Metula residents confirmed that security threats at the border remain a major concern, contributing to their hesitation in returning. Despite the ceasefire being in effect for months, they stressed that stability has yet to be restored, leaving them uncertain about their future in the settlement.
