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Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israel to seize Gaza City, stopping short of full takeover
Israel said it will take control of Gaza City — a move that could displace 1 million Palestinians living there — defying domestic concerns over the fate of the remaining hostages and an international outcry over the humanitarian situation in the enclave. The decision marks an escalation in a conflict that's already devastated the Palestinian territory, where the UN World Food Programme has warned half a million people are starving.(AP/PTI) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved the operation early Friday for the purpose of 'defeating Hamas' after 22 months of fighting that's killed tens of thousands of Gazans and sparked UN famine warnings. The decision stopped short of the full takeover that Netanyahu floated in an interview with Fox News on Thursday. He said Israel would eventually 'hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly, without threatening us, and giving the Gazans a good life.' The cabinet set a symbolic deadline of Oct. 7 to complete preparations, two years since Hamas — an Iran-backed Islamist faction which is on Western terrorism blacklists — triggered the war by attacking Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250, according to local media. The new plan will require six army divisions — around twice the current deployment in Gaza, according to Israel's Channel 12. After the meeting, Israel officially stated five conditions for ending the war that it's previously raised, including the disarming of Hamas, the return of all 50 remaining hostages, demilitarization and Israeli security control of the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. The shekel weakened by 0.3% following the cabinet decision and traded at 3.34 against the US dollar as of 09:30 am. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is closed on Fridays, but its benchmark index dropped 2.7% over the last week following reports of the upcoming decision. 'More disasters' Opposition Leader Yair Lapid attacked the new plans, saying in a post on X that it will lead 'to many more disasters,' and constituted a surrender to Netanyahu's far-right coalition members 'in complete contradiction to the opinion of the military and security ranks, without considering the erosion and exhaustion of the fighting forces. It's 'a move that will lead to the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, and cost tens of billions to Israeli taxpayers,' he added. The decision marks an escalation in a conflict that's already devastated the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations World Food Programme has warned half a million people are starving. The Israeli statement issued early Friday promised to 'provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside combat zones,' but gave no further details on how that might be accomplished. Israel blocked all aid to Gaza in March, and in May allowed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israeli-backed relief group, to begin distributions. But the system has been shunned by traditional UN agencies, and the UN says more than 1,000 aid seekers have been shot near GHF stations — incidents for which GHF denies responsibility. International isolation Israel has been plunged into international isolation over the spiraling humanitarian toll in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, and the flood of pictures of starving Palestinians in recent weeks has led to a growing number of longtime Western allies to call for Palestinian statehood. On Friday, the Netherlands revoked permits for the export of naval ship components to Israel 'due to the deteriorating conditions in the Gaza Strip' and 'the risk of undesirable end-use.' Turkey condemned Friday's decision and called on the international community and the UN to prevent its implementation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Netanyahu's government to 'reconsider immediately' as 'it will only bring more bloodshed.' Starmer added that Hamas must leave, disarm and can play no part in the future of Gaza, and reiterated the UK's support for a two-state solution. At the same time, Israel has major diplomatic and logistical backing from the US, with President Donald Trump increasingly frustrated by Hamas's negotiating tack and offering to expand the GHF in concert with Israel Defense Forces advances. The IDF already controls some 75% of Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians whose towns and homes have been reduced to ruins. Gaza City, in the north, is among pockets of territory that have been subjected to air strikes but largely skirted by ground forces as Israel believes Hamas holds hostages there, 20 of which are thought to be alive. Internal opposition Polls show that Israelis, by a wide majority, would prefer to see the war ended with Hamas intact if it means recovering the hostages and sparing the military more casualties. The IDF's Chief of the General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, proposed a softer plan that was rejected by the security cabinet because 'a decisive majority of ministers believed that the alternative plan that had been submitted to the cabinet would neither achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages,' according to the cabinet statement. A group representing families of the hostages, who took to the streets across Israel during the cabinet meeting, said Friday morning in a statement that the 'decision to pursue occupation of the Gaza Strip means abandoning the hostages, while completely ignoring the repeated warnings from military leadership and the clear will of the majority of the Israeli public.' Zamir said on Thursday that the IDF intends to defeat Hamas and will operate with the hostages 'at the forefront of our minds.' Negotiations on a proposed third ceasefire and partial hostage release stalled last month, with Israel and its US ally blaming Hamas. The Palestinian faction sought an end-of-war commitment by Israel, which insisted that Hamas first give up power and weaponry. Hamas — which Israel estimates still has around 20,000 men under arms, half its prewar numbers — is defiant. In Gaza City and the central towns that are also in Israel's sights, the Palestinian fighters retain tunnel systems that could enable hit-and-run ambushes on the Israeli army, which has lost more than 450 troops in Gaza so far. Hamas has also threatened to execute the 20 live hostages rather than see them rescued.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Shame on those who don't care about starving Israeli hostages
The horrific videos of starved-to-the-brink-of-death Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski should shock the conscience of the world — yet Israel-haters who've thundered about alleged mass starvation in Gaza have nothing to say after a look at the real thing. The footage evokes painful memories of the Holocaust, the war against the Jews, with Nazi concentration-camp prisoners transformed into skeletons. Both young men were healthy and strapping when kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival almost two years ago; today they're emaciated ghosts of their former selves. Advertisement 3 Israeli President Isaac Herzog displays a photo of Evyatar David, an Israeli man held hostage by Hamas. REUTERS Ever since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, propagandists have howled about the 'imminent' famine that they insisted Israel was causing in Gaza. 'Half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine while the rest are enduring emergency levels of hunger,' cried the UN World Food Programme, less than a week after Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 250 more. The 'brink' of famine kept stretching out farther and farther. In May of this year, the United Nations breathlessly warned that '14,000 babies in Gaza could die in the next 48 hours.' Advertisement This claim got retracted after a spokesman explained it meant 14,000 babies could die if they got no aid by March 2026. Last month, The New York Times ran a viral photo of a baby 'famine victim' who, it turned out, was actually suffering from genetic medical conditions. Uncropped pictures show tot's older brother standing by, looking sufficiently fed and healthy. Yes, Gazans are suffering. But Hamas — which routinely steals humanitarian aid meant for civilians — deserves the blame for its brutal and cynical use of the plight of the people as a weapon in the war of public opinion. Advertisement 3 Starving hostage Evyatar David in video footage. AP For all the wailing about 'mass starvation,' no one has been able to provide a picture of an adult truly starving to death in Gaza, much less of the kind of famine seen in historical pictures from verified periods of true, widespread hunger. That is, until Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad gave us videos of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, prisoners the terrorists are intentionally depriving of food to ramp up pressure on Israel to end its war. Yet the usual suspects who cry crocodile tears over Israel's 'genocide' have totally ignored the plight of two Israeli hostages being deliberately starved to death. Advertisement 3 Video still of Rom Braslavski, a hostage held in Gaza for nearly 700 days. AOC, Bernie Saunders and Zohran Mamdani have said nothing. Nor has the world rallied to Israel's side, offering serious help to defeat Hamas and save the hostages. Rom Braslavski's mother Tami issued a searing statement: 'Until now, you could only imagine how Rom and the other hostages are suffering,' she implores. 'Now you've seen it with your own eyes. I'm crying out to the world — what will you do about it?' Let her cry echo through the chamber of the UN General Assembly, the Democratic Party and the nerves and sinews of every apologist for Hamas and amplifier of its lies. Decent people of the world need to speak up — and act: Free the hostages now.
Roya News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Australia pledges additional $20 million for Gaza
The Australian government today announced an additional $20 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, bringing its total contribution to over $130 million since October 7, 2023. This new funding is earmarked for critical supplies, including food and medical provisions for field hospitals, specifically targeting women and children in the besieged Strip. The $20 million package will be distributed among key international partners: $6 million to the UN World Food Programme for food supplies, $5 million to UNICEF for children's nutritional support, $5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for essential needs and healthcare, $2 million for relief support with the UK, and $2 million to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for field hospitals. The commitment comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza is described as a "catastrophe," with widespread starvation, severe malnutrition, and a rising death toll, including 93 children, due to hunger-related causes. Aid delivery remains severely hampered by chaos and obstruction, with UN agencies reporting that much of the aid entering Gaza does not reach distribution warehouses due to 'Israeli' military restrictions and internal lawlessness. Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Australia's firm diplomatic stance, calling on 'Israel' for a "full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza" in line with International Court of Justice orders, stating that "The suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also asserted that 'Israel' has "clearly" breached international law by impeding food entry. This latest aid pledge and Australia's increasingly assertive diplomatic language follow significant domestic pressure, including large-scale anti-war protests across major cities on the same day as the announcement. Public opinion surveys in May 2025 indicated that 82% of Australians viewed 'Israel's' blockade of Gaza as "unjustified". International aid organizations, including Oxfam, have dismissed recent 'Israeli' measures to facilitate aid as "theatrics, token gestures dressed up as progress," emphasizing that airdrops are "insufficient" and a ceasefire is essential for safe delivery.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
‘Must end:' Aus' $20m move amid Gaza crisis
Australia will commit a further $20m to assist the delivery of critical food and aid to starving Gazans, as health authorities confirmed reporting that 163 people had died of starvation, including 93 children. The move comes amid growing international pressure for Australia to join the UK, France and Canada in committing to recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September, which will be attended by Anthony Albanese. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the additional $20m aid package on Sunday night, which brings Australia's total contribution to $130m. The assistance will be delivered through key partners and humanitarian organisations will be broken into five different components. The announcement comes after the Israeli government relented to the establishment of humanitarian corridors, following intense global condemnation it was purposefully starving civilians in Gaza – claims Israeli Prime Minister Israeli Netanyahu have denied and labelled a 'bold-faced lie'. $2m has been earmarked for relief support alongside the UK though the existing partnership arrangement, $6m will be spent through the UN World Food Programme for the distribution for critical food supplies. The government's $20m commitment comes as huge pro-Palestine rallies hit Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday. NewsWire / Brendan Read Credit: News Corp Australia $5m have also been committed both to UNICEF to target children at risk of starvation, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide essential needs, like healthcare. Another $2m will be delivered through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation to bolster the operations of field hospitals in the war zone. Senator Wong reiterated her demands of a ceasefire, with the US and Israel restarting negotiations for a peace deal. The move also comes after more than 50,000 anti-war protesters shut down Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, demanding more action, with similar large-scale demonstrations happening in Melbourne's CBD. 'Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice,' she said. 'The suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end. 'Australia will continue to work with the international community to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and a two-state solution – the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated calls for a ceasefire and said the 'suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end'. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia International Development Minister Dr Anne Aly said the government was working with partners to provide the 'immediate and sustained lifesaving assistance' and urged the Israeli government to allow teams to 'do their vital work and deliver aid at scale'. 'Australia's additional funding will bolster international efforts to address urgent needs in Gaza. It will provide urgently needed food and healthcare,' she said. 'We continue to call on Israel to allow immediate and unimpeded aid access into Gaza.' The announcements come as Anthony Albanese seeks a call with Mr Netanyahu, following sustained speculation around whether Australia will join its Western Allies in recognising Palestinian statehood at the international summit next month. Mr Albanese has repeatedly said the act cannot just be a 'gesture' but must go towards achieving a two-state solution and peace in Gaza. The Coalition has said peace needs to be resolved before they support the recognition of statehood, which would require Hamas to surrender and release the Israeli hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- Health
- AsiaOne
Gaza mother worries time running out for evacuation of malnourished daughter, World News
GAZA CITY — Stroking the hair of her emaciated daughter on a hospital bed in Gaza City, Nasma Ayad fears time is running out for a medical evacuation of the malnourished eight-year-old to avoid the fate of her sister, who died last month. "I feel I'm slowly losing my daughter, day after day — everything she's suffering from is multiplying," Ayad said. With few medical supplies and limited food, treating malnourished Palestinian children with complicated conditions in war-shattered Gaza has become increasingly difficult, according to medical staff and humanitarian agencies. Jana received treatment for malnutrition last year at an International Medical Corps clinic in the central town of Deir al-Balah after showing signs of weakness and delayed growth. Though she improved, the frequent interruption of healthcare services and increasing scarcity of food — as Israeli forces who control all access to Gaza have kept up their offensive against Hamas militants — led to a relapse, Ayad said. She weighs just 11 kilograms (24 pounds) and has trouble seeing, speaking or standing up. "She started having an edema, which is fluid retention that makes the limbs and the body swell and store water because of the lack of protein and food," said Suzan Marouf, a therapeutic nutritionist at Patient Friend's Benevolent Society Hospital. Jana's sister, Joury, died on July 20. The child had kidney problems exacerbated by malnutrition, her mother said. Gaza's spiralling humanitarian crisis prompted the main world hunger monitoring body on Tuesday to assess that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding, and that immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death. Images of emaciated Palestinian children have shocked many around the world. Gazan health authorities have reported more and more people dying from hunger-related causes. The total now stands at 156, among them 90 children, most of whom died in the past few weeks. Ayad had hoped both her girls could be evacuated to safety to receive treatment outside the Gaza Strip. Health officials had added them to a list of patients who were in need of evacuation last September. But the evacuations never transpired. Though it was too late for Joury, her mother still holds out some hope for Jana. "I am calling for the urgent referral of Jana as soon as possible to be treated outside the country," she said. With the international furore over Gaza's ordeal growing, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the UN World Food Programme said on Tuesday it was still not getting the permissions needed to deliver sufficient aid. Israel and the US accuse Hamas of stealing aid — which the Islamist group denies — and the UN of failing to prevent this. The United Nations says it has seen no evidence of Hamas diverting much aid. Hamas accuses Israel of causing starvation and using aid as a weapon, which the Israeli government denies. ALSO READ: 'If the baby could speak, she would scream': The risky measures to feed small babies in Gaza
