Latest news with #militaryexpansion
France 24
3 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Explosion kills several members of army in southern Lebanon
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CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Analysis: Netanyahu's Gaza takeover plan satisfies no one but himself
The Middle East Israel-Hamas warFacebookTweetLink Follow Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, the Israeli security cabinet voted for yet another military expansion: the proposed takeover of Gaza City. The plan, which was initiated and pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself, arguably reveals more about his domestic political maneuvering than evidence of any well-thought-out military strategy. The plan was adopted despite the Israeli military leadership's fierce objection and grave warnings it could both deepen the humanitarian crisis and endanger the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza., The major expansion of the war also comes against the backdrop of a fundamental erosion of support for Israel around the world, and a decline in internal public backing for the continuation of the war. And yet, Netanyahu pushed his plan forward, as it has at least one unstated benefit: it gives him time to fight for his political survival. And with his current far-right coalition partners, that means prolonging the war. Time and again, Netanyahu's allies, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have thwarted and aborted progress in ceasefire negotiations by threatening to collapse his government if the war were to end. Netanyahu's plan to besiege Gaza City actually falls short of what his coalition partners demand: Ben Gvir and Smotrich are pushing for a full occupation of the embattled enclave as a first step for rebuilding the Jewish settlements in Gaza and ultimately annexing the territory. It is also less than what Netanyahu himself had been selling ahead of the meeting. In an interview on Thursday, Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel intends to take control of all of Gaza, as if he had made up his mind to fully occupy the territory. Instead, the Israeli leader chose to promote a phased plan, focusing only on Gaza City for the time being, without taking over other camps nearby, where many of the 20 remaining Israeli hostages are believed to be held captive. Netanyahu also intentionally set a relatively loose deadline for the beginning of the operation - in two months - leaving the door open for another diplomatic push for a ceasefire hostage deal to reemerge and call the whole thing off. Now, his right-wing partners are fuming at the decision, charging that the plan isn't enough and that only escalating the war will suffice A source close to Smotrich said, 'The proposal led by Netanyahu and approved by the cabinet may sound good, but it is actually just more of the same. This decision is neither moral, nor ethical, nor Zionist.' Netanyahu's latest plan pleases neither his coalition partners nor Israel's military leadership. During the marathon 10-hour cabinet meeting, Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir presented the army's stark opposition to the government's reoccupation plans. Israel's top general warned that a renewed military excursion would endanger both the remaining hostages and Israeli soldiers, cautioning that Gaza would become a trap that would further exhaust IDF forces already worn down by almost two years of continuous fighting, and deepen the Palestinian humanitarian crisis. The military concerns echo the broad public Israeli sentiment: according to repeated opinion polls, a majority of Israelis support a ceasefire deal that would bring back the hostages and end the war. But Netanyahu's current decision-making is disconnected from both military advice and popular will, driven instead, analysts and political opponents say, by the narrow imperative of his political survival. The Gaza takeover plan also places Netanyahu and Israel in unprecedented international isolation. Despite the unwavering free hand that President Trump's White House has given him in the Gaza war, the growing famine and starvation crisis has already diminished global legitimacy for Israel's war, and the additional fallout from the latest cabinet's decision was swift and unambiguous: Germany – Israel's second most important strategic ally after the United States – announced it was suspending some of its military exports to Israel, setting the stage for other EU countries to further downgrade relations. Netanyahu is pushing forward with a plan that satisfies no one: Israel's allies abroad, its own military leadership, a public that wants the war to end on the one hand, and on the other, his hardline partners who are unhappy and think it does not go far enough. The constituency it does serve is primarily Netanyahu himself: buying him more time to avoid the inevitable choice between a genuine ceasefire that could save the hostages or a full military escalation that satisfies his coalition. More than a strategic move, it represents yet another classical Netanyahu maneuver to prolong the war, while perpetuating harm and suffering for Gaza residents and Israeli hostages alike. All for his own political survival.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Netanyahu convenes security cabinet to discuss plan for full military takeover of Gaza
Update: Date: 16:26 BST Title: Here's what Israeli media is reporting about the military expansion in Gaza Content: Israel's plans to occupy Gaza would initially see one million residents in the Strip pushed further south. Israeli media says the country's goal is to destroy what remains of Hamas in Gaza after nearly two years of fighting in the Strip. Outlets report the aim is to pressure Hamas into freeing the hostages still held in Gaza. But Israel's plans don't involve an immediate takeover of the entire territory, according to sources that have spoken to Israeli media. Instead, Hebrew-language outlets suggest that Netanyahu is more likely to approve a phased plan, potentially spanning the course of five months, after firstly issuing an evacuation notice to the residents of Gaza City. Channel 12 news says this first phase, expected to last several weeks, would allow time to establish civilian infrastructure including hospitals and camps in central Gaza. A military offensive would follow, alongside an acceleration of humanitarian aid, while Palestinians are moved further south, Israeli media reports. At the same time, other Israeli media sources say that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will perform manoeuvres in areas where the hostages are believed to be held, as well as regions in central Gaza which they have so far largely avoided during the conflict. Update: Date: 16:14 BST Title: Netanyahu pushing for full takeover of Gaza as security cabinet meets Content: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to press his security cabinet to approve a plan to take control of Gaza at a meeting this afternoon. Fears are circulating that the new military escalation would endanger Palestinians living in the Strip, who have been pushed into shrinking areas since the war began nearly two years ago. Meanwhile, the families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza fear that increased military operations will endanger about 20 living Israeli captives. Netanyahu has told Fox News "we intend to" take control of the whole of Gaza to "ensure our security" and "remove Hamas there". "We want to liberate ourselves and the liberate the people of Gaza," he says. Israel's media has been reporting for several days that the prime minister is seeking backing for a plan to expand the military operation in Gaza and reoccupy the entire territory. This comes after indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage deal broke down and Palestinian armed groups released videos of two Israeli hostages looking weak and emaciated. There are reports that military leaders oppose the reoccupation. Many of Israel's close allies would also condemn such a move as they push for an end to the war. Stick with us as we bring you the latest developments and analysis on the Middle East.
Washington Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Germany, long tightfisted, goes on a spending spree with new budget
BERLIN — Tapping Germany's expansive new borrowing authority, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet is set to approve a draft 2026 federal budget on Wednesday that envisions a 172 billion euro ($199 billion) shortfall from 2027 to 2029 as the country embarks on a major military expansion and new infrastructure investments. It wasn't long ago that Germany was the debt scold of Europe. Now, it's on track to become the continent's biggest borrower.
Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
UK ready to sanction top Israelis over ‘intolerable' Gaza offensive
Britain is prepared to impose sanctions on senior members of the Israeli government after suspending trade talks with the country over its 'intolerable' military expansion in Gaza. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, condemned 'monstrous' calls from Israeli cabinet ministers for Gaza to be cleansed, describing the comments as repellent and extremist. He said Israel's refusal to allow thousands of aid lorries into Gaza was an 'affront to the values of the British people' and accused Binyamin Netanyahu's government of 'isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world'. The government is drawing up plans with other countries to impose sanctions on Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, and Israel Katz, the defence minister, among others. Lammy's comments represent Britain's
