Latest news with #OperationGideon'sChariots
Days of Palestine
a day ago
- Health
- Days of Palestine
Israel continues squeezing Gaza population with new displacement orders
DaysofPal- The Israeli army issued fresh evacuation orders late last night targeting five areas in the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City, signaling a likely expansion of its military operations amid ongoing escalation and mounting humanitarian catastrophe. Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adrai announced that residents in Jabalia al-Balad and Atatra in the northern Gaza governorate, as well as the neighborhoods of Shujaiya, Daraj, and Zeitoun in Gaza City, must evacuate immediately and head west. He stated that these areas are now considered 'combat zones.' In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Adrai wrote, 'Terrorist organizations continue their destructive activity in the region, so the IDF will expand its offensive activity in the areas where they are located to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organizations.' This warning comes as part of what observers view as a continuing genocide that began on October 7, 2023, and coincides with Israeli declarations about expanding the war under the name Operation Gideon's Chariots. In another dangerous development, the administration of Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza announced that Israeli forces began forcibly evacuating patients and medical staff from the facility, raising serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable civilians. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza condemned the action, stating it reflects 'a continuation of the occupation's crimes and violations against the health system in the Gaza Strip,' and urged all relevant international actors to intervene to protect medical infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law. According to Hebrew media sources, the current Israeli campaign could extend over several months and entail 'the comprehensive evacuation of the entire population of Gaza from the combat zones, including northern Gaza, to areas in the south of the Strip.' Reports also indicate that the army plans to remain in any area it 'occupies.' On May 22, Israeli media reported that the army aims to establish control over 75 percent of the Gaza Strip within the next two months. The Haaretz newspaper wrote, 'The Israeli army estimates that within two months, it will control 75 percent of the Gaza Strip, concentrating about two million Palestinians in three main areas: Gaza City, the central refugee camps, and the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.' This latest escalation comes as the Gaza Strip endures what humanitarian agencies describe as an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Since the closure of crossings on March 2, residents have faced extreme famine and critical shortages of food and medicine. An estimated 1.5 million Palestinians out of 2.4 million have been rendered homeless due to the widespread destruction of homes by Israeli bombardments. Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, over 177,000 people have been killed or wounded, the majority of them women and children, according to Palestinian sources. More than 11,000 individuals remain missing, their fate unknown amid the rubble and devastation. Shortlink for this post:
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kfir Brigade destroys booby-trapped Gaza building with drone technology
Under the direction of Division 36, the Kfir Brigade has killed dozens of terrorists, as well as destroyed Hamas infrastructure and weaponry as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots The Kfir Brigade, under the direction of Division 36, joined the fighting in Khan Yunis as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, the IDF said in a statement Friday. The troops have killed dozens of terrorists, located and destroyed terrorist infrastructure and weaponry. The team used drones to destroy explosives sites and booby trapped buildings used by Hamas. The Kfir Brigade previously served under the command of Division 162 for nearly three months in northern Gaza, finishing the operation in January. "We operated for sixty-four days in northern Gaza. Sixty-four days of operating without breaks or rotations. We worked to destroy Hamas above and below ground," Kfir Brigade sources said. " IDF publishes footage of Kfir Brigade operation in Khan Yunis, May 30, 2025. "We killed over 300 terrorists, including senior operatives who caused a lot of trouble. We paid a very heavy price in the fighting. In six incidents, we lost 12 soldiers and commanders. We had dozens of wounded, some of whom have already returned to combat." The Kfir Brigade has been operating in Gaza and southern Lebanon, and has conducted counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank since Israel's multi-front war began in October 2023.
Russia Today
a day ago
- General
- Russia Today
Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire proposal
Israel and Hamas have agreed to accept the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by the US, several media outlets reported on Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled his readiness to accept a roadmap presented by US special envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting with the relatives of hostages still in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Arab media later reported that Hamas had also accepted the deal to release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the enclave in exchange for a temporary truce. Haaretz newspaper quoted an anonymous Israeli official as saying that Washington's proposal envisages the release of the remaining 10 living hostages and the return of 18 bodies held in Gaza by Hamas over the course of a week. In exchange, Netanyahu's government would reportedly agree to a 60-day cease-fire. The Jerusalem Post cited an unnamed source as saying that Hamas has reservations regarding Washington's plan, and sees it as favoring Israel. The Islamist militant group is reportedly wary of the fact that the US would not provide a guarantee that the temporary 60-day ceasefire would be extended to become permanent. The latest developments have come amid an intensified Israeli assault on Gaza in recent days, including a fresh wave of airstrikes and a major ground offensive codenamed 'Operation Gideon's Chariots.' Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that the military action will not cease until Hamas has been totally vanquished. Mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, negotiations between the two belligerents have been going on for some time in Doha, albeit producing little progress so far. The current escalation began in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 250 more. According to Palestinian authorities, the ensuing IDF military campaign has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 residents of the densely populated enclave.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
It's time for Israel to halt its war of devastation in Gaza
The government of Israel is currently waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning, and with no chances of success. Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war. The criminal gang headed by Benjamin Netanyahu has set a precedent without equal in Israel's history in this area, too. The obvious result of Operation Gideon's Chariots is, first and foremost, the confused activity of Israeli military units deployed around Gaza. This is true particularly in neighborhoods where our soldiers have already fought, were hurt and fell while killing many Hamas combatants, who deserve to die, and many more innocent civilians. These have joined the statistics of pointless victims among the Palestinian population, reaching monstrous proportions. Recent operations in Gaza have nothing to do with legitimate war goals. The government sends our soldiers – and the military obeys – to wander around Gaza City, Jabalya and Khan Younis neighborhoods in an illegitimate military operation. This is now a private political war. Its immediate result is the transformation of Gaza into a humanitarian disaster area. Over the past year, harsh accusations were voiced worldwide against the Israeli government and its military's conduct in Gaza, including accusations of genocide and war crimes. In public debates in Israel and on the international arena, I've rejected such accusations firmly, though I didn't shrink from criticizing the government. The international media listens to all voices in the public debate in Israel. It can discern between those who serve as mouthpieces for Netanyahu and his lackeys and his opponents, who view him, as the media is currently fond of saying, as the head of a crime family. I didn't hesitate to give interviews in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and elsewhere in the international arena. Quite often, I disappointed interviewers when I vehemently asserted that Israel wasn't committing war crimes in Gaza. Excessive killing happened, but, I claimed firmly and with conviction, in no case did a government official give orders to hit Gazan civilians indiscriminately. The great number of innocent civilians killed in Gaza was hard to fathom, unjustified, unacceptable. But all, as I have said on every media outlet in the world, resulted from a vicious war. This war should have ended by early 2024. It continued without justification, without any clear goal, and with no political vision for the future of Gaza and the Middle East in general. The military, charged with and duty-bound to execute government orders, acted in many cases rashly, incautiously, over-aggressively. However, it did so without any order or instruction or directive from military top brass to hit civilians indiscriminately. Therefore, as I understood it at the time, no war crimes had been committed. Genocide and war crimes are legal terms that very much refer to the intent and responsibility of the people authorized to formulate the war's objectives, its conduct and its purpose, the boundaries of fighting and the limitations on the use of force. I took every available opportunity to distinguish between the crimes we have been accused of, which I refused to admit, and the carelessness and indifference regarding Gazan victims and the unbearable human cost we've been levying there. The first accusation I rejected, the second I admitted to. In recent weeks I've been no longer able to do so. What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: the indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. We're not doing this due to loss of control in any specific sector, not due to some disproportionate outburst by some soldiers in some unit. Rather, it's the result of government policy – knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated. Yes, Israel is committing war crimes. First, starving out Gaza. On this issue, the position of senior government figures is public and clear. Yes, we've been denying Gazans food, medicine and basic living needs as part of an explicit policy. Netanyahu, typically, is trying to blur the type of orders he's been giving, in order to evade legal and criminal responsibility in due course. But some of his lackeys are saying so outright, in public, even with pride: Yes, we will starve out Gaza. Because all Gazans are Hamas, there's no moral or operational limitation on exterminating them all, over 2 million people. Israeli media outlets, each for its own reasons (some understandable) are trying to present a moderate version of events in Gaza. But the picture displayed around the world is much broader, much more devastating. It's impossible to view it with equanimity and a nod, as if the world's reaction is merely a widespread outburst of antisemitism, because everybody hates us and they're all antisemites. Well, no. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is no antisemite. I know him well. I've been talking to him over the last few months. When the hour was at hand, the French military stood on the frontline to defend Israel and cooperated in intercepting Iran's missile attacks. 'We're fighting with you against your enemies under my direction, and you've been accusing me of supporting terrorism,' Macron recently said. He is a friend of Israel, as are the British prime minister, Keir Starmer; the Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof; the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni; and many others who've joined them from within the ranks of Europe's most outstanding and important cabinet ministers and leaders. They've been hearing the voices from Gaza. They see the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians. They've been hearing the voices from Israeli cabinet meetings and realize the obvious: Israeli cabinet ministers, headed by crime boss Netanyahu, are actively, unhesitatingly and with malice aforethought pursuing a policy of starvation and humanitarian pressure, with potentially catastrophic results. Voices are already rising from Israel-friendly governments such as Canada, the UK and France, calling for concrete measures against the government, though these could cause grievous harm to Israel. Macron suggested a review of the association agreement between Israel and the European Union, a suggestion seconded by the prime ministers of Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. These latter two, unlike Macron, are both rightwing leaders, and until recently had declined any move that could have embarrassed Israel. These voices will grow. There's a risk that tangible punishment will be directed at Israel beyond steps by the international criminal court at The Hague, with lethal financial and diplomatic results. The Netanyahu government's choir of thugs and the poison machine it has been operating will immediately decry typical victimization: the Gentiles are antisemites. They hate us. They've always been against us. They support terrorism – while we fight terrorism. In truth, these governments aren't anti-Israeli, they oppose the Israeli government. They believe the government has declared war on the state of Israel and its inhabitants, and it may have caused irreversible damage. I concur. I believe the government of Israel is now the enemy from within. It has declared war on the state and its inhabitants. No external foe we've fought against over the past 77 years has caused greater damage to Israel than what the Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich-led government has inflicted on us. No external foe managed to devastate the social solidarity that was the basis of Israeli society's strength in all existential tests facing it since 1948, as the Netanyahu government has done and does. I will briefly repeat here what has already become accepted wisdom in large parts of the Israeli public: this government is unworthy. It cannot, nor does it wish to do what is good for the country and its citizens. It's entirely preoccupied with destroying any basis for internal unity, for cooperation between communities, which may disagree over core issues. It's driven by some crazed enthusiasm to pit brother against brother, mother against children, soldiers against soldiers, punks and thugs against hostages and their families. It takes sadistic, sick, irresponsible and merry joy in this, while of course failing to bring back the hostages. And while all this mess is going on, we keep on slaughtering Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, too. I have said so before, and I will not go back on my word. Members of the horrible hilltop youth are daily perpetrating heinous crimes all over the West Bank, while the police and military units deployed in the area are turning a blind eye. The murder of Tzeela Gez is horrifying. One cannot but feel pain over the fate of this young woman and over the tragedy to which she fell victim on her way to the hospital to give birth to her son. May he survive and grow up in the bosom of his loving family, who will surely protect him. But the statement by head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, saying that Palestinian villages must be destroyed is a declaration of genocide. When a Palestinian village burns down, and quite a few already have, they'll tell us that the perpetrators are a small, violent group that does not represent settlers. This is a lie. They are many. The vanguard is always smaller. Behind it are the Yossi Dagans who are inspiring them, helping them to avoid exposure and preparing the next wave of rioters. Where are the police? Where is the military? Where are the tens of thousands of settlers who ought to say that these horrifying hilltop youths are criminals who should be sent to prison rather than wandering around olive orchards belonging to West Bank residents? Nor is it possible to ignore what has been happening in some Israeli military units, including special forces, where the best and most daring soldiers serve. There have been too many incidents of cruel shooting at civilians, of destruction of property and homes, even when this should not happen. There is too much looting and theft from homes, about which in many cases Israeli soldiers have boasted. Some have gone as far as posting about their antics online. Israelis are committing war crimes. I do not share the opinion of former chief of staff Moshe Yaalon, who said that Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing. But we are nearing the point when it will be undeniable that such is the unavoidable result of what the government, the military and our brave soldiers have been doing in practice. It is time to halt, before we are all banished from the family of nations and are summoned to the international criminal court for war crimes, with no good defense. Enough is enough. Ehud Olmert is a former prime minister of Israel This op-ed originally appeared in Haaretz
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
The Bulletin May 19, 2025
The rundown: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces will "take over all areas" of the Gaza Strip and that Israel will act to prevent a famine by lifting a weekslong blockade on aid, though he said the resources allowed in would be "minimal." Get more details. Why it matters: Hamas formerly governed Gaza until the Israeli invasion. Hamas militants launched the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw hostages taken from Israel into Gaza, sparking the current war. Netanyahu's remarks came a day after Israel launched a major ground offensive in Gaza, dubbed "Operation Gideon's Chariots". Israel says it must eliminate the militant group Hamas from Gaza for its own security. Netanyahu acknowledged a new plan developed with the U.S. for American companies to deliver aid via distribution points secured by the IDF. He accused Hamas of looting previous aid deliveries. Read more in-depth coverage: Israel Official Says Gaza Could Be the New Dubai if Trump Enacts Plan TL/DR: "There is one essential condition: We must not reach a situation of famine, both from a practical standpoint and a diplomatic one," Netanyahu said in a video posted to his Telegram page on Monday morning. What happens now? Netanyahu said that the aid that would be let in would be "minimal," without specifying precisely when it would resume. "Our large-scale entry is essentially about taking control of all of Gaza and stripping Hamas of any ability to loot humanitarian aid.' Deeper reading Netanyahu Says Israel Will Seize Control of All Gaza Strip
