12 h. ago Middle East crisis live: WHO asks for more medical aid to be allowed into Gaza before Israeli offensive

World Health Organization says it needs to deal with ‘catastrophic’ health situation in Gaza before Israel moves to ‘take control’ of Gaza CityIn a post on X, Israel Defense Forces claim to have “debunked” what it called Hamas’s “starvation campaign” in Gaza.The IDF said that reviews of documents showed that most deaths by malnutrition in Gaza were linked to “severe pre-existing conditions” and that only a handful of the 133 deaths by malnutrition claimed by Gaza’s authorities in July could be “verified”. The post said that the “expert review concluded that there are no signs of a widespread malnutrition phenomenon among the population in Gaza”. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Israel plans to widen coming offensive beyond Gaza City into last areas not under its control

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel plans to widen its coming offensive beyond Gaza City to the last areas not yet under Israeli control

Politics

43 h. ago Netanyahu’s Gaza City outrage fulfils his messianic fantasy of a Greater Israel. The world must stop him | Nimer Sultany

Ignore suggestions that further occupation would be temporary. Act now! This outrageous landgrab is ethnic cleansing in plain sightIt is hard to describe in words the pain of witnessing your people being destroyed for more than 670 days. It is even more unfathomable to contemplate another Israeli escalation, after witnessing so much suffering and so many crimes committed against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. How can this be allowed in full view of the world for so long? Will the world stand by?Israel’s security cabinet declared this escalation when it approved a plan to “fully occupy” the Gaza Strip and attack concentrations of population, starting with Gaza City itself. The consequences of this newest military onslaught are foreseeable and predictable. In May 2024, Israel attacked Rafah despite international warnings and in defiance of an international court of justice order – Rafah no longer exists. In November and December 2024, Israel attacked the northern towns of B...

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54 h. ago Netanyahu defends Gaza City plan as UN warns of ‘calamity’ and starvation

Israeli PM says taking over city is ‘best way’ to end war, despite condemnation from within Israel and around worldMiddle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has defended his plan to take control of Gaza City in the face of widespread international outrage, even as senior UN officials warned that the move risked unleashing “another calamity” on a territory already experiencing “starvation, pure and simple”.In a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister said the plan, signed off last week by the security cabinet to criticism both at home and abroad, was “the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.” Continue reading...

Events

54 h. ago World leaders issues Benjamin Netanyahu statement as he vows to take over Gaza City

The UN Security Council held a rare emergency meeting after Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said his military will take control of Gaza City, with officials saying the move would risk violating international law

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55 h. ago UN warns Gaza faces ‘starvation, pure and simple’ as child deaths mount – latest updates

Humanitarian office says 37 children have died from acute malnutrition since July, as overall toll nears 100See all our Middle East crisis coverageIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem at 4:30pm local time (13:30 GMT; 14:30 BST).He will likely be asked about the security cabinet’s controversial decision on Friday to expand its assault on Gaza and take control of Gaza City.Following the alerts activated in the Gaza Envelope, it is likely that two launches from the Gaza Strip crossed into the country’s territory, interception attempts were made, and their results are under review. Continue reading...

Events

58 h. ago Watch: Netanyahu claims government’s plan to take over Gaza City is ‘best way’ to end war

Watch the moment Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that his government’s plan to take control of Gaza City is the “best way” to end the war — a move that has prompted the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting.

Politics

58 h. ago Netanyahu claims his Gaza City takeover plan is fastest way to end war – latest updates

Israeli PM’s plan to escalate war has drawn international condemnationSee all our Middle East crisis coverageIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem at 4:30pm local time (13:30 GMT; 14:30 BST).He will likely be asked about the security cabinet’s controversial decision on Friday to expand its assault on Gaza and take control of Gaza City.Following the alerts activated in the Gaza Envelope, it is likely that two launches from the Gaza Strip crossed into the country’s territory, interception attempts were made, and their results are under review. Continue reading...

Events

62 h. ago Netanyahu to give press conference after announcement of Israeli plan to escalate war on Gaza – latest updates

PM has ignored military advice and warnings that move could endanger hostages and will lead to further destruction and suffering for PalestiniansSee all our Middle East crisis coverageIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem at 4:30pm local time (13:30 GMT; 14:30 GMT; 15:30 BST).He will likely be asked about the security cabinet’s controversial decision on Friday to expand its assault on Gaza and take control of Gaza City.Following the alerts activated in the Gaza Envelope, it is likely that two launches from the Gaza Strip crossed into the country’s territory, interception attempts were made, and their results are under review. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Gaza latest: Defiant Israel says global criticism will not ‘weaken resolve’ to occupy whole of Gaza City

Israel’s security cabinet has approved Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take full military control of Gaza City

Politics

4 d. ago Gaza latest: Emergency meeting set for UN Security Council as Israel plans military takeover

Israeli political-security cabinet approved Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take full military control of Gaza City on Thursday

Events

4 d. ago The Guardian view on Israel’s Gaza takeover plan: a destructive act that must be stopped | Editorial

Benjamin Netanyahu has embarked on an operation that guarantees fresh miseries and will solve absolutely nothingIsrael’s planned takeover of Gaza would be an act of destructive futility. It would solve absolutely nothing. It will merely pile fresh military, humanitarian and political problems on to the mounds of those already created in the conflict. It will make every human agony worse, not better. Governments around the world must do whatever they can – the US above all – to stop it.There is still time. The plan announced on Friday is for an operation to take military control of Gaza City, home to a million displaced Palestinians. They will be forcibly evacuated, yet again, to the southern Gaza Strip over the coming weeks. Aid distribution is certain to be a secondary consideration, logistically challenging and woefully inadequate for a population where malnutrition is already severe. The threat to life in Gaza, including to the remaining Israeli hostages captured on 7 Octobe...

Politics

4 d. ago Voices: Netanyahu’s new plan for Gaza City will be the end of him

Local protests against the Israeli prime minister’s idea to escalate the war and take full military control of Gaza City have been muted so far – but his recklessness will eventually see him removed from office, says former diplomat Alon Pinkas

Politics

4 d. ago ‘I will live here, and I will die here’: Palestinians defiant as Israel plans to seize control of Gaza Strip

While some in Gaza City are preparing to evacuate to the south, others refuse to be displaced againDisplaced repeatedly. Forced to live in tent camps or amid the ruins of their homes. Stricken by hunger and deprived of medical supplies.Now, 22 months into the war, around 1 million Palestinians are bracing for another catastrophe after the Israeli security cabinet’s decision to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. Such an offensive would force them toward the south of the territory, and an uncertain future. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘I will live here, and I will die here’: Palestinians defiant as Israel plans to seize control of Gaza City

While some in Gaza City are preparing to evacuate to the south, others refuse to be displaced againDisplaced repeatedly. Forced to live in tent camps or amid the ruins of their homes. Stricken by hunger and deprived of medical supplies.Now, 22 months into the war, around 1 million Palestinians are bracing for another catastrophe after the Israeli security cabinet’s decision to take control of Gaza City. Such an offensive would force them toward the south of the territory, and an uncertain future. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Netanyahu’s plan to take over Gaza sparks anger and threat of sanctions from allies

Israeli political-security cabinet approved Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take full military control of Gaza City, but the move was roundly condemned across Europe

Events

4 d. ago Gaza latest: Netanyahu’s plan for military takeover of Gaza means ‘sacrificing’ hostages, say Hamas

Israeli political-security cabinet approved Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take full military control of Gaza City on Thursday

Events

4 d. ago Make America Bait Again! JD Vance shows off fishing skills on visit to David Lammy's country retreat (and boasts he caught more)

David Lammy and US vice-president JD Vance showed off their fishing skills at the Chevening country retreat.

Events

4 d. ago Make America Bait Again! JD Vance shows off his fishing skills as he meets David Lammy at Foreign Secretary's country retreat

David Lammy and US vice-president JD Vance showed off their fishing skills at the Foreign Secretary's Chevening country retreat.

Events

4 d. ago Vance meets Lammy in UK as Starmer denounces Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City – UK politics live

The foreign secretary is hosting the US vice-president at Chevening, his grace-and-favour residence, and Gaza is expected to be on their agendaThe SNP is calling for the recall of parliament so that MPs can approve sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu in the light of his decision to extend the occupation of Gaza. In a statement Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:A genocide is happening before our eyes in Gaza. Words of condemnation aren’t anywhere near enough - if we have any hope of stopping this genocide strong actions are desperately needed, now. That means Keir Starmer needs to recall Westminster and take concrete steps to sanction the Israeli government. Those sanctions must include ending all arms sales to the Israeli military, stopping all training, logistical and military support to the IDF, directly and personally sanctioning Netanyahu and his ministers and finally and immediately recognising the state of Palestine before it is brutally wiped off the map. If...

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