“HORRIFIED”
An Israeli group representing the families of hostages still held in Gaza said they were “horrified” by Katz’s announcement of expanded military operations.
“Has it been decided to sacrifice the hostages for the sake of ‘territorial gains?'” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum asked in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected suggestions his government is not doing enough to secure the hostages’ release.
“We are negotiating under fire … We can see cracks beginning to appear” in Hamas’s positions during ceasefire talks, he told his cabinet on Sunday.
At least 1,042 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed military operations, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said in its latest toll update on Tuesday.
That took the overall toll to at least 50,399 since the war began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, according to Israeli figures.
“THEY’RE ALL CLOSED”
Hunger loomed in Gaza City as bakeries closed due to worsening shortages of flour and sugar since Israel blocked the entry of aid supplies from Mar 2.
“I’ve been going from bakery to bakery all morning, but none of them are operating, they’re all closed,” Amina al-Sayed told AFP.
On Sunday, Netanyahu offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded the group abandon its arms.
Hamas has signalled willingness to cede power in Gaza but calls disarmament a “red line”.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States are attempting to broker a new ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
A senior Hamas official said on Saturday the group had approved a new ceasefire proposal, while Netanyahu’s office said Israel had submitted a counteroffer. The details remain undisclosed.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday, drawing condemnation not only from Hamas but also from neighbouring Jordan, which acts as custodian of the holy site.
Ben Gvir has repeatedly challenged the longstanding convention that Jews may visit but not pray at the compound, stoking Palestinian fears about Israeli intentions.
