What are Benyamin Netanyahu’s plans now for Gaza? The Prime Minister was due to hold a meeting of his security cabinet this Tuesday, August 5, bringing together the Ministers of Defense and Strategic Affairs, as well as the Chief of the Staff of the Army. A meeting ultimately postponed, believes the daily life Haaretzwhich rather evokes a limited security meeting, led by the Director of Cabinet of the Prime Minister, on the latest developments in Gaza.
The sign of a disagreement between political power and the Israeli army? The press is brushing rumors on a possible large -scale operation of the army in the enclave, ministers who confirmed under the cover of anonymity on Kan public radio that he had been decided “To extend the fight to areas where hostages could be detained.” “Towards the total conquest of the Gaza Strip”, also daily title Ma’ariv, While the N12 television channel evokes possible disagreements on the question between Benyamin Netanyahu and the chief of staff of the army, the lieutenant-general Eyal Zamir.
Tractations that take place while the UN Security Council holds this Tuesday a session devoted to the question of Israeli hostages in Gaza, initiated by Israel, which wants to carry the file “In the center of the world agenda”.
This Tuesday morning, the COGAT, an organization of the Ministry of Defense in charge of civil administration in Gaza, authorized the partial entry of private goods into the enclave, in a “Controlled and progressive”. “The objective is to increase the volume of the aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing dependence on the collection of aid by the UN and international organizations”according to the ministerial body.
A limited number of local merchants will be authorized to send to Gaza “Basic food products, baby foods, fruits and vegetables and hygiene articles […]subject to several criteria and rigorous security control ”, he detailed. The objective remains “Take all possible measures to prevent involvement” Hamas in “The delivery and distribution of aid”according to the cogat.
Israel raised the total humanitarian blockade at the end of May which he imposed in early March in the Palestinian territory, completely dependent on international aid, but only authorizes the entry of very limited quantities, deemed insufficient by the UN. The International Community press Israel to open humanitarian valves in large. “Refusing access to food to civilians can constitute a war crime, even a crime against humanity”, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, repeated on Monday.
At least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed since the implementation on May 27 of a new aid distribution system via the Humanitarian Foundation in Gaza supported by Israel and the United States, most of them by Israeli fire, “While they were looking for food”accused the UN last week. For its part, Hamas accuses Israel of voluntarily maintaining the «chaos» et “To organize famine”.
Videos, published at the end of last week by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, exhibiting two weakened and emaciated Israeli hostages have rekindled in public opinion the debate on the urgency of an agreement allowing the return of captives. According to an AFP count, out of the 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023, 49 remain retained in Gaza, including 27 declared dead by the Israeli army.
Hostage families in mind, many Israelis demand the end of hostilities to bring back “The hostages at home”. Benyamin Netanyahu had asked the help of the Red Cross International Committee on Sunday to provide “Food and medical treatment” to the hostages.
