Israel continues its attacks, the cabinet reviews plans to take control of Gaza City
Israel is continuing its attacks on the Gaza Strip as part of its offensive on Gaza City, which has seen concentrated attacks on its neighbourhoods.
Israeli attacks on the city killed a number of civilians, including five who were killed in shelling on an apartment in north Gaza City, as well as another four who were killed in an airstrike in the Shiekh Radwan neighbourhood, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Israel’s attacks have killed at least 63,459 Palestinians and wounded a further 160,256 since the war began.
The continued war on Gaza comes as Israel ramps up raids in the occupied West Bank, including in the cities of Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah, with live ammunition being used by Israeli forces during a raid on the Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron, wounding five Palestinians.
The Israeli security cabinet convened on Sunday to review plans for seizing control of Gaza City, as the government faces mounting international pressure and unprecedented domestic opposition, even from Israel’s own security leaders.
According to a report by the newspaper Maariv citing an Israeli official, the agenda does not include discussing a prisoner deal but only military plans. This indicates a postponement of any negotiations for the release of detainees in Gaza.
Alongside the planned military escalation, Netanyahu and the cabinet – made up of senior officials including Katz and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – are expected to discuss a diplomatic offensive in response to the anticipated wave of recognition for Palestinian statehood at next month’s UN General Assembly.
Netanyahu is considering measures ranging from full annexation of the West Bank, to partial annexation of selected settlements, to sanctioning the Palestinian Authority, according to two Israeli officials.
As it considers what steps to take in the West Bank, the Israeli government is pushing forward with the military assault on Gaza City despite growing pressue to pursue a diplomatic route would end the nearly two-year war.
