Israel faces growing global condemnation over Gaza
DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP—International condemnation grew on Saturday over Israel’s decision for a military takeover of Gaza City, while little appeared to change immediately on the ground in the territory shattered by 22 months of war.
Health officials said that 11 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead, and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet with Qatar’s prime minister in Spain on Saturday to discuss a new proposal to end the war, according to two officials familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak with the media.
Mediators Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages—dead and alive—in one go in return for the war’s end and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, two Arab officials have told The Associated Press (AP).
Families of hostages were rallying again on Saturday evening to pressure the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid new fears over the 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive and struggling.
‘Lost forever’
“The living will be murdered and the fallen will be lost forever” if the offensive goes ahead, said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza. She called on Israelis to “help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel … Shut the country down.”
A joint statement by nine countries including Germany, Britain, France and Canada said that they “strongly reject” Israel’s decision for the large-scale military operation, saying it will worsen the “catastrophic humanitarian situation,” endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement. They said any attempts at annexation or settlement in Gaza violate international law.
A separate statement by more than 20 countries including ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar along with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates called Israel’s decision a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation.” Meanwhile, Russia said Israel’s plan would aggravate the “already extremely dramatic situation” in Gaza.
UN meeting
The UN Security Council planned an emergency meeting on Sunday. And Germany has said it won’t authorize any exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza until further notice.
Officials at Nasser and Awda hospitals said that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people seeking aid in southern and central Gaza. Some had been waiting for aid trucks, while others had been approaching aid distribution points.
Israel’s military denied opening fire and said that it was unaware of the incidents. The military secures routes leading to distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed and US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two witnesses told AP that Israeli troops fired toward crowds approaching a GHF distribution site on foot in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone that bisects Gaza.
