Netanyahu defends deliberate Gaza Metropolis navy offensive, says it is the one strategy to defeat Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a deliberate navy offensive into Gaza Metropolis, saying Israel “has no alternative however to complete the job and full the defeat of Hamas.”

Chatting with overseas media in Jerusalem, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s purpose was to not occupy Gaza, however to “free Gaza.”

The Israeli chief mentioned there’s a “pretty brief timetable” in thoughts for the following steps in Gaza.

The targets in Gaza, he mentioned, embody demilitarizing the enclave, sustaining the Israeli navy’s “overriding safety management” and placing a non-Israeli civilian administration in cost.

The information convention got here two days after Israel’s Safety Cupboard accredited a plan for the Israeli navy to take over Gaza Metropolis. The transfer sparked condemnation inside and out of doors Israel, and fears that the plan would exacerbate the Gaza Strip’s humanitarian issues and put the remaining dwelling hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, in additional hazard.

“We are going to win the warfare, with or with out the assist of others,” Netanyahu mentioned.

Netanyahu’s tackle got here simply earlier than the United Nations Safety Council held an emergency assembly on Israel’s plan to take management of Gaza Metropolis.

The prime minister mentioned the plan accredited by his Safety Cupboard instructs the Israel Protection Forces to dismantle the final two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza Metropolis and the central camps, whereas Palestinians are funneled into “protected zones” with meals and medical care.

“That is one of the simplest ways to finish the warfare and one of the simplest ways to finish it speedily,” he mentioned.

Netanyahu additionally mentioned he had directed Israel’s navy in current days to “deliver in additional overseas journalists” — which may very well be a putting growth in obvious response to criticism that their entry to Gaza has been restricted, although the situations below which they’d be allowed to report stay to be clarified.

Netanyahu spoke with President Trump on Sunday in regards to the plan, in accordance with the prime minister’s workplace. 

“The 2 mentioned Israel’s plans for taking management of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in an effort to deliver in regards to the finish of the warfare, the discharge of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned, thanking Mr. Trump for “his steadfast assist of Israel for the reason that begin of the warfare.”

Late Sunday, a heavy Israeli bombardment was reported in Gaza Metropolis. Shortly earlier than midnight native time, broadcaster Al Jazeera mentioned correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed by an Israeli strike. Rami Mohanna, administrative director on the close by Shifa Hospital, mentioned Israeli forces had hit a tent utilized by Al Jazeera journalists outdoors the hospital’s partitions. Together with al-Sharif, three different journalists and a driver have been reported killed. Al Jazeera recognized two of the others killed as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal.

Israel’s navy later confirmed it had killed al-Sharif, alleging he was “the pinnacle of a Hamas terrorist cell” who “posed as an Al Jazeera journalist.”

Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The nonprofit Committee to Shield Journalists final month mentioned it was gravely involved for al-Sharif’s security and mentioned he was being “focused by an Israeli navy smear marketing campaign.”

U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff is assembly with the Qatari prime minister in Spain this weekend, with the primary purpose being a dialogue of constructing “workable” a brand new joint Egyptian-Qatari proposal on the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, CBS Information has reported.

Two Arab officers informed The Related Press that the brand new ceasefire framework would come with the discharge of all hostages — lifeless and dwelling — suddenly in return for the warfare’s finish and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

U.S. defends Israel at Safety Council assembly

America defended Israel, saying it has the best to determine what’s greatest for its safety. It referred to as the allegations of genocide in Gaza false.

The U.S. has veto energy on the U.N. Safety Council council and may block proposed actions there.

Different council members and U.N. officers expressed alarm. China mentioned what it referred to as the “collective punishment” of individuals in Gaza was unacceptable. Russia warned in opposition to a “reckless intensification of hostilities.”

“That is not a looming starvation disaster; that is hunger,” mentioned Ramesh Rajasingham with the U.N. humanitarian workplace. “Humanitarian situations are past horrific. We have now frankly run out of phrases to explain it.”

Extra Palestinians killed as they search support in Gaza

A minimum of 26 Palestinians have been killed whereas looking for support within the Gaza Strip within the final day, hospitals and witnesses informed The Related Press.

Hospital officers mentioned they acquired our bodies from areas the place Palestinians have been looking for support — both alongside meals convoy routes or close to privately run support distribution factors throughout Gaza.

The lifeless embody 10 who have been killed whereas ready for support vehicles near the newly constructed Morag hall, which separates the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, mentioned Nasser hospital.

An extra six folks have been killed whereas ready for support in northern Gaza close to the Zikim crossing, in accordance with the Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry and the Shifa hospital in Gaza Metropolis, which acquired the casualties.

Six different support seekers have been killed whereas attempting to achieve websites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis in Khan Younis and Rafah, Nasser hospital mentioned.

Responding to Related Press inquiries, the GHF media workplace mentioned: “There have been no incidents at or close to our websites in the present day.” Israel’s navy mentioned there have been no incidents involving troops close to central Gaza support websites.

Throughout his press convention, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for its function within the ongoing humanitarian disaster, together with civilian deaths, destruction and shortages of support.

“Hamas nonetheless has hundreds of armed terrorists in Gaza,” he asserted, including that Palestinians are “begging” the world to be free of them.

The prime minister, who has asserted that there’s “no hunger in Gaza,” did acknowledge starvation there, saying, “there was an issue with deprivation, no query about it.” Israel needs to extend the variety of support distribution websites, he mentioned, however gave no particulars.