Expanded Assault Ignores Humanitarian Warnings
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed plans for a swift military takeover of Gaza City, dismissing widespread condemnation and internal dissent. The offensive aims to establish "safe zones" for civilians, a claim Palestinians reject, noting previous "safe zones" like Rafah became deadly bombardment targets. Netanyahu’s own military chief warned the operation endangers hostages and traps soldiers in prolonged urban combat, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned it as a "foolish half-measure" from the far right.
Starvation as a Weapon of War
As Netanyahu downplayed Gaza’s famine, calling reports a "global campaign of lies" the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed five more starvation deaths, including two children, bringing the total to 217 famine-related deaths (100 children). The UN’s Ramesh Rajasingham countered Netanyahu’s denial: "This is no longer a looming hunger crisis; this is starvation," citing 98 child malnutrition deaths since July alone. Airdrops have proven deadly: 23 Palestinians, including a 14-year-old crushed by a parachuted aid box, have died during chaotic distributions.
International Isolation Grows
Global backlash intensified. Germany suspended all arms exports usable in Gaza, with Netanyahu accusing Chancellor Merz of "buckling under pressure". EU Council President Antonio Costa warned of consequences for EU-Israel relations, citing violations of their July aid agreement. Five nations (UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, NZ) jointly condemned the offensive as a potential violation of international humanitarian law. At the UN Security Council, Russia and China blasted Israel’s "reckless intensification" and "collective punishment," while Palestine’s envoy demanded action over rhetoric: "You owe this to Palestinian civilians".
Resistance and Defiance
Amid the crisis, Palestinians refuse to capitulate. Fatma Al-Shinbary, a mother of nine displaced multiple times, vowed to remain in Gaza City: "Death is better than displacement". In Tel Aviv, hostage families and Israeli protesters blocked Tel Aviv highways, demanding Netanyahu prioritize captives’ lives over military escalation. Hamas reiterated it will not disarm without Palestinian statehood, calling the offensive a "sacrifice of hostages". With 61,400+ Palestinians killed and 1.1 million facing famine, the IRC warns Israel’s aid restrictions and GHF’s militarized distribution have created a "death trap". As WHO’s Tedros noted, history will judge this man-made catastrophe harshly, and so will Gaza’s children.