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Japan Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Netanyahu says new Gaza offensive will start soon
The sister of Palestinian man Mohammed Qandeel, who was killed in Israeli fire while seeking aid on Saturday, according to medics, grieves as she is comforted by her daughter during his funeral in Gaza City, August 10, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he expected to complete a new Gaza offensive "fairly quickly" as the U.N. Security Council heard new demands for an end to suffering in the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu, speaking after his security cabinet on Friday approved a much-criticized plan to take control of Gaza City said he had no choice but to "complete the job" and defeat Hamas to free hostages seized from Israel. Netanyahu's office said late Sunday the prime minister had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump about "Israel's plans to take control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza." Earlier in the day, the Israeli leader said the new Gaza offensive aimed to tackle two remaining Hamas strongholds in what he called his only option because of the Palestinian group's refusal to lay down its arms. Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established. It was not clear when the offensive, which would be the latest in successive attempts by the Israeli military to clear the militants from Gaza City, would begin. "The timeline that we set for the action is fairly quickly. We want, first of all, to enable safe zones to be established so the civilian population of Gaza City can move out," he added. The city, home to a million people before the two-year-old war, would be moved into "safe zones", he said. Palestinians say these have not protected them from Israeli fire in the past. Israel's military chief has voiced opposition to occupying the entire Gaza Strip and has warned that expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare. Netanyahu said his goal was not to occupy Gaza. "We want a security belt right next to our border, but we don't want to stay in Gaza. That's not our purpose," he said. European representatives at the United Nations said famine was unfolding in Gaza and Israel's plan would only make things worse. "Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering," Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement. "This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza," they said. Malnutrition is widespread in the enclave due to what international aid agencies say is a deliberate plan by Israel to restrict aid. Israel rejects that allegation, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed. The U.S. representative at the Security Council defended Netanhayu and said Washington was committed to addressing humanitarian needs, freeing the hostages and achieving peace. Netanyahu said Israel was working with Washington on creating a surge of aid into Gaza, including by land. After his conversation with Trump, the prime minister's office said he thanked the president "for his steadfast support of Israel." STARVATION Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza's health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said a further 23 people had been killed so far in the war by airdrops of aid which countries have resorted to due to the difficulties of getting aid in by road. In the latest case, a parachuted aid box killed a 14-year-old boy awaiting food with other desperate Palestinians at a tent encampment in central Gaza, according to medics and video verified by Reuters. "We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," it said. Italy said Israel should heed its own army's warnings before sending more troops into Gaza, where the Israeli military already holds large parts of the territory. "The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive. Israel's offensive since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel's Gaza plan risks ‘another calamity', UN official warns
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The sister of Palestinian Mohammed Qandeel, who was killed while seeking aid, grieves as she is comforted by her daughter in Gaza City. NEW YORK – A UN official on Aug 10 warned the Security Council that Israel's plans to control Gaza City risked 'another calamity' with far-reaching consequences as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his goal was not to occupy the territory. The UN Security Council held a rare emergency weekend meeting after Israel said its military would 'take control' of Gaza City approved by Mr Netanyahu's security Cabinet that sparked a wave of global criticism. 'If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction,' UN Assistant Secretary Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council. Slovenia's Ambassador to the UN Samuel Zbogar, speaking on behalf of the five European members of the Security Council ahead of the meeting, said 'this decision by the Israeli government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages and risk further endangering their lives'. 'It will also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and risk further death and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians,' he said. But Mr Netanyahu said on Aug 10 Israel was 'talking in terms of a fairly short timetable because we want to bring the war to an end ', as he insisted Israel did not want to occupy the whole of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said on Aug 8 that 'this escalation by the Israeli government is in total contradiction to the will of the international community'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 55,000 BTO units to be launched from 2025 to 2027, will help moderate HDB resale prices: Minister Singapore First voluntary redevelopment projects for HDB flats likely to be launched in first half of 2030s Singapore Israel's plan to step up Gaza offensive dangerous and unacceptable: MFA Singapore Over 118,000 speeding violations in first half of 2025; situation shows no signs of improvement: TP Singapore Four men arrested in Bukit Timah believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates Singapore 65-year-old vendor shares joy with thousands of free ice creams Singapore 'We could feel the heat from our house': Car catches fire in Bidadari area Singapore Criminal trial of Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and five others starts on Aug 11 The United States, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, is likely to seek to shield its staunch ally Israel from any practical measure of UN censure. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said ahead of the meeting 'Israel will not stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, and ensuring the safety and security of our citizens is our duty'. AFP
