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The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump to outline Israel's intensified plan in Gaza, aiming to conclude the war by securing the release of hostages and defeating the Hamas militant group. Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to President Trump for his "steadfast support for Israel since the beginning of the war."
This conversation comes as Netanyahu defended a newly announced, more expansive military operation in Gaza. Facing mounting international and domestic criticism, the Israeli Prime Minister declared Israel "has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas."
He revealed that the security cabinet had authorised operations not only in Gaza City but also in the "central camps" and Muwasi, areas that shelter over half a million displaced Palestinians and had not been included in Israel's previous announcement. A source privy to the operation confirmed Israel's plans for these additional areas to the news agency AP.
The decision to expand the offensive has drawn huge criticism, with some within Netanyahu's ruling coalition arguing that targeting only Gaza City was insufficient. While Netanyahu mentioned "safe zones," a history of bombardment in such designated areas has raised serious concerns, particularly given the UN's figures on the displaced population.
Late Sunday, reports indicated heavy bombardment in Gaza City. Al Jazeera reported the death of its correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, in an airstrike that reportedly hit a tent housing Al Jazeera journalists outside Shifa Hospital. Three other journalists and a driver were also reported killed in the strike.
The escalating offensive has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, displacing most of the Palestinian population and creating a man-made famine in the region. The number of children dying from malnutrition-related causes has reached 100 since the war began, with two such deaths reported on Saturday.
Since June, at least 117 adults have also died from malnutrition. These figures are in addition to the reported 61,400 Palestinian war casualties, a toll that the Hamas-run government's health ministry attributes to approximately half women and children, though it does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. UN and independent experts consider this ministry the most reliable source for casualty figures.
