Israel confirms plans to seize all of Gaza and stay indefinitely, officials say
Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early Monday vote, hours after the military chief announced the mobilisation of tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.
Officials said the plan involves the 'capturing of the strip and the holding of territories," as well as preventing Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel claims strengthens the militant group's control.
Israel also accuses Hamas of hoarding aid to bolster its capabilities.
The plan, which would be implemented gradually, includes targeted strikes against Hamas, according to Israeli officials.
Additionally, Israel is in discussions with several countries regarding US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population, a proposal Israel refers to as 'voluntary emigration,' though it has faced condemnation from European and Arab allies.
If carried out, the move would significantly widen Israel's operations in Gaza and likely provoke strong international opposition.
For weeks, Israel has been increasing pressure on Hamas to push for more flexibility in ceasefire talks.
However, international mediators trying to broker a new deal have faced difficulties, as Israel's actions do not appear to have shifted Hamas' stance on negotiations.
Since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapsed in mid-March, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has carried out intense airstrikes that have killed hundreds.
It has captured large portions of Gaza, now controlling around 50% of the territory.
Following the collapse of the ceasefire, Israel halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food, fuel, and water, triggering what is considered the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war.
As Israel's blockade on supplies into Gaza enters it's third month, desperate scenes of hunger and need can be seen across the territory as ITV News' Ian Woods reported on Sunday
The UN warned that Israel's plan could leave large parts of the population, especially the most vulnerable, without essential supplies, describing it as a "pressure tactic" to "reinforce control over life-sustaining resources" as part of a military strategy.
The US government has expressed clear support for Israel's plan, but it remains uncertain who would fund the private military companies or provide the aid.
Oxfam and UNICEF have both reported widespread disease and malnutrition in Gaza, with families rummaging through "piles of rubbish" to feed their children.
Since the beginning of the year, over 9,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, according to the UN.
The ban on aid has caused widespread hunger and led to looting due to severe shortages.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Erin Molan Stellar magazine cover sparks furious backlash over her views about Israel's war in Gaza: 'Never reading this publication again'
A magazine cover featuring Erin Molan has sparked a ferocious backlash over the TV presenter's strong stance supporting Israel in its conflict with Gaza. This weekend's edition of Stellar, which is published in News Corp's Sunday newspapers, is being promoted on Instagram and some readers are furious that Molan appears on the front. The former Sky News Australia host has publicly condemned Hamas since its raids on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023, and in recent months has been reporting from Israel on the Middle East war. While some fans - including model and influencer Bec Judd - were quick to congratulate Molan on taking out the cover position, others could not see past her pro-Israel views. 'No thanks Stella... No one I would support,' wrote one. 'So tone deaf,' said another. A third posted: 'Free Palestine ps never reading this publication again.' Several other users threatened to boycott Stellar. Some of the comments are too inflammatory to publish. The Times of Israel ran a profile piece on Molan in May under the headline 'Erin Molan vs. the world: From Australian news anchor to pro-Israel firebrand.' 'Molan has found herself increasingly recognized in Israel, where people on the street often flock to her, eager to thank her for her support,' it reported. The story quoted Molan, who is Catholic, describing her reaction to the October 7 outrages. 'It was never complex to me or grey or fuzzy,' she said. 'It was black and white as to who evil was in this scenario.' Molan has maintained that stance amid Israel's retaliation and the ongoing human crisis in Gaza. Former Sky News Australia colleague Sharri Markson moved quickly last year to quash a conspiracy theory that Molan had been sacked from the network for her pro-Israel views. In December, Markson wished Molan her well in her future pursuits and wrote on X that it was 'categorically untrue' the 41-year-old had been booted off Sky 'because of her Zionism'. in their reporting of the onetime Footy Show presenter's removal by Sky. Daily newspaper Israel Hayom referred to Molan's response to the October 7 massacre in which more than 1,200 Israelis - mostly citizens - were killed and 254 taken hostage. 'Molan has been a vocal supporter of Israel on her Sky News Australia program,' the newspaper stated. 'Strongly condemning both Hamas' actions against Israeli civilians and the pro-Hamas demonstrations that have erupted worldwide, repeatedly using her platform to address the ongoing war.' Israel National News covered the presenter's axing under the headline: 'Sky News Australia fires pro-Israel host Erin Molan.' 'Australian news anchor Erin Molan, who repeatedly defended Israel in the year since the October 7 massacre, has been fired by Sky News Australia,' its story began. Molan posted an impassioned nine-minute video to X in December, repeatedly mentioning the Middle East conflict and thanking everyone who had supported her. 'So that's done now,' she said of her Sky job. 'But I am not. In fact, I'm just getting started. 'So I'm sorry to those who had hoped otherwise. I'm somewhat surprisingly much harder to kill off than you'd think. 'You see the problem is - and it's always been this way with me - I just care too much. 'About you, about the world, about a peaceful existence for every single child.' Molan has called Hamas terrorists 'blood-thirsty killers' and said she would continue 'fighting for every single hostage still captive in Gaza'. Markson's post on X came shortly after Molan's video went live. 'I have to clear up this notion that her departure from Sky is because of her Zionism - this is categorically untrue,' she said. 'No media outlet globally has shown more leadership or clarity on Israel's fight against terrorism and our own battle against antisemitism than us at Sky News Australia and News Corp.' Although network insiders suggested Molan was caught off-guard by the decision to cancel her show, Sky insisted they had ended their partnership with the host on amicable terms. Molan presented her weekly news program, Erin, for the final time on November 29. The decision to cancel Molan's show comes just months after the breakfast radio program she co-hosted alongside comedians Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee was scrapped by Southern Cross Austereo's struggling 2DayFM station in August. The cancellation of Molan's two key hosting roles is understood to have come at a significant financial cost to the journalist. Sources said she had been pulling in about $200,000 a year for her 2DayFM radio gig and a further $150,000 a year from her job with Sky. Molan joined Sky News Australia in July 2022 after parting ways with Nine after 11 years at the network.
The Guardian
4 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The full list of Trump's tariffs – from India to Taiwan
US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations, shortly after extending the deadline for a tariff deal with Mexico by another 90 days. The order listed higher import duty rates that would start in seven days for 69 trading partners as the 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) deadline approached. Below is a list of the countries and the reciprocal tariffs they face, plus a searchable table: Afghanistan – 15% Algeria – 30% Angola – 15% Bangladesh – 20% Bolivia – 15% Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30% Botswana – 15% Brazil – 10% Brunei – 25% Cambodia – 19% Cameroon – 15% Chad – 15% Costa Rica – 15% Côte d`Ivoire – 15% Democratic Republic of the Congo – 15% Ecuador – 15% Equatorial Guinea – 15% European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate > 15%* – 0% European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate < 15%** – 15% Falkland Islands – 10% Fiji – 15% Ghana – 15% Guyana – 15% Iceland – 15% India – 25% Indonesia – 19% Iraq – 35% Israel – 15% Japan – 15% Jordan – 15% Kazakhstan – 25% Laos – 40% Lesotho – 15% Libya – 30% Liechtenstein – 15% Madagascar – 15% Malawi – 15% Malaysia – 19% Mauritius – 15% Moldova – 25% Mozambique – 15% Myanmar (Burma) – 40% Namibia – 15% Nauru – 15% New Zealand – 15% Nicaragua – 18% Nigeria – 15% North Macedonia – 15% Norway – 15% Pakistan – 19% Papua New Guinea – 15% Philippines – 19% Serbia – 35% South Africa – 30% South Korea – 15% Sri Lanka – 20% Switzerland – 39% Syria – 41% Taiwan – 20% Thailand – 19% Trinidad and Tobago – 15% Tunisia– 25% Turkey – 15% Uganda – 15% United Kingdom – 10% Vanuatu – 15% Venezuela – 15% Vietnam – 20% Zambia – 15% Zimbabwe – 15% * For purposes of this Executive Order and its Annexes, 'Column 1 Duty Rate' means the ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1-General of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). ** Minus Column 1 Duty Rate
BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
Trump raises Canada trade tariff to 35%
US President Donald Trump has raised the tariff on Canada to 35%, escalating a trade war with one of Washington's key economic decision, contained in an executive order, increases the rate from 25% and will come into effect at 00:01 US East Coast time (05:01 BST) on 1 said Canada had "failed to cooperate" in curbing the flow of fentanyl and other drugs across the US border, something Prime Minister Mark Carney insisted earlier this month his country was making "vital progress" president also announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries on Thursday, as he continued his drive to remake how global trade operates. As the clock ticked towards Trump's deadline to strike trade deals, he announced goods from Mexico would be charged at current rates for another 90 days, avoiding a threatened increase to 35%. However senior White House officials said their Canadian counterparts were less constructive in negotiations than Mexico, prompting the 35% tariff on that levy remained due to come into effect from midnight US East Coast time on Friday, countries affected by the so-called "reciprocal" tariffs would have seven days before they kick that are loaded onto ships by 7 August and those that are already in transit will also not be affected by the rates if they reach the US before 5 by the White House, the orders leave most goods coming into the US facing new taxes of between 10% and 50%.Few nations have been spared in the latest list of tariff rates. Even small economies like Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea in the Asia-Pacific region were issued 15% not mentioned on the list face baseline duties of 10%. Follow live coverage hereHow much cash is the US raising from tariffs? The tariffs, which are a tax on imports, hit Asian countries major trading partners in the region - India and Taiwan - were hit with levies of 25% and 20% President Lai Ching-te said the levy was only "temporary", vowing to complete talks with Washington for a land-locked South East Asian nation Laos is facing the second-highest rate in this round of tariffs. At 40% it sits just behind Syria's unenviable 41%.A day earlier, Trump reached a deal with South Korea, imposing a 15% tariff on its imports in return for investment in the US and other concessions. Economists and financial analysts have warned that the new levies will raise prices for businesses and consumers in the US and weigh on the economy, predictions that the Trump administration has House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump was "proving the so-called economic experts wrong at every turn"."What we are watching is President Trump rebuilding the greatest economy in the history of the world," she said. Follow BBC's coverage of US tariffs ANALYSIS: How much cash is the US raising from tariffs?EXPLAINER: What tariffs has Trump announced and why?CONSUMERS: Six things that will get more expensive for Americans The escalation of the tariffs had been telegraphed for months, starting when Trump unveiled sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs in April, saying they would rebalance global trade flows and reduce America's trade deficit - the gap between what it buys and sells abroad. The measures added to separate levies targeting key sectors such as steel, aluminium and cars. After turmoil in financial markets, he suspended some of the most punishing measures, inviting countries to negotiate, while leaving in place a 10% duty on most products. More than 200 countries reached out to the White House in the months following, according to Trump administration officials, though some struggled to get officials ultimately reached rough "framework" agreements with eight trade partners, including the UK, China, Japan and European Union, which set tariff rates in exchange for promises of investment in the US or other key aspects of those agreements remain unresolved. Talks with other countries, such as India ended without terms. Trump has said India will face a 25% levy on its goods, plus an unspecified "penalty" for its dealings with Russia. Up until nearly the last moment, many countries were still waiting word on what new tariff rates the administration had settled a post on social media, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said she had a last-minute phone call with Trump, which ended without an accord. "The trade deficit remains a central concern of his," she wrote. Switzerland ended up with a 39% tariff.
