From 3h ago
09.20 BST
Israeli
ministers approved a plan to capture all of Gaza and remain there – two
officials say
Israel’s
security cabinet approved a plan to capture all of the Gaza Strip and remain
there for an unspecified amount of time, two officials said, AP reports.
The plan was
approved today and is part of Israel’s efforts to increase pressure on Hamas to
free hostages and negotiate a ceasefire on Israel’s terms.
The two
officials said the plan also includes the displacement of hundreds of thousands
of Palestinians to southern Gaza. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were discussing military plans.
Updated at
09.22 BST
12m ago
12.18 BST
Bezalel
Smotrich: Israelis should embrace the word 'occupation'
Israel will
not withdraw from the Gaza Strip even if there is another hostage deal is
reached, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has insisted as he called
on Israelis to embrace the word “occupation.”
“We are
finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word
‘occupation,’” Smotrich told Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal during a
conference organised by Israel’s right-wing Besheva newspaper.
“We are
finally taking control of all humanitarian aid, so that it does not become
supplies for Hamas. We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the
Strip, returning the hostages — and defeating Hamas,” he said.
“The only
way to release the hostages is to subdue Hamas. Any retreat will bring about
the next October 7,” he said. “Once as we occupy and stay [in Gaza] we can talk
about sovereignty. But I did not demand that this be included among the goals
of the war. First, we will defeat Hamas and prevent it from existing.”
52m ago
11.38 BST
AFP provides
some more detail on Israel’s plans to intensify its operations in Gaza, with
the official saying Israel was planning the “conquest” of the territory.
The Israeli
official said the plan for expanded operations “will include, among other
things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories,
moving the Gaza population south for their protection”.
The majority
of Gaza’s population had resided in the north of the territory, particularly
Gaza City, and nearly all have been displaced at least once since the war
began.
The cabinet,
which includes prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several ministers,
“unanimously approved” the plan aimed at defeating Gaza’s rulers Hamas and
securing the return of hostages held in the territory.
The official
source said the plan included “powerful strikes against Hamas”, without
specifying their nature.
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