Netanyahu defends planned Gaza City military offensive, says it’s the only way to defeat Hamas

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

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

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

The targets in Gaza, he stated, 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 outside Israel, and fears that the plan would exacerbate the Gaza Strip’s humanitarian issues and put the remaining residing hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, in additional hazard.

“We’ll win the battle, with or with out the assist of others,” Netanyahu stated.

Netanyahu’s handle 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 stated 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 the easiest way to finish the battle and the easiest way to finish it speedily,” he stated.

Netanyahu additionally stated he had directed Israel’s navy in latest days to “deliver in additional international journalists” — which could possibly be a putting growth in obvious response to criticism that their entry to Gaza has been restricted, although the situations underneath which they’d be allowed to report stay to be clarified.

Netanyahu spoke with President Trump on Sunday concerning the plan, in keeping with the prime minister’s workplace. 

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

Late Sunday, a heavy Israeli bombardment was reported in Gaza Metropolis. Shortly earlier than midnight native time, broadcaster Al Jazeera stated correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed by an Israeli strike. Rami Mohanna, administrative director on the close by Shifa Hospital, stated 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 had 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 top of a Hamas terrorist cell” who “posed as an Al Jazeera journalist.”

Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The nonprofit Committee to Defend Journalists final month stated it was gravely involved for al-Sharif’s security and stated 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 News has reported.

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

U.S. defends Israel at Safety Council assembly

The US defended Israel, saying it has the best to resolve what’s finest 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 might block proposed actions there.

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

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

Extra Palestinians killed as they search help in Gaza

Not less than 26 Palestinians had been killed whereas looking for help within the Gaza Strip within the final day, hospitals and witnesses informed The Related Press.

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

The useless embody 10 who had been killed whereas ready for help vehicles near the newly constructed Morag hall, which separates the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, stated Nasser hospital.

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

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

Responding to Related Press inquiries, the GHF media workplace stated: “There have been no incidents at or close to our websites right this moment.” Israel’s navy stated there have been no incidents involving troops close to central Gaza help websites.

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

“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 help distribution websites, he stated, however gave no particulars.