Summary

  • A top UN official warns of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza

  • It follows reports in Israeli media that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a total reoccupation of the Strip

  • Many of Israel's allies would be against such a move as they push for an end to the war but, when asked, US President Donald Trump told reporters: "That's pretty much going to be up to Israel"

  • Israel's security cabinet is due to meet on Thursday, and would need to approve any such action

  • The country's army chief and other military leaders reportedly oppose the strategy, and some families of hostages fear it could further endanger their loved ones

  • The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely

  1. Israeli defence minister says military will follow government's orders over Gazapublished at 09:25 British Summer Time

    Israel Katz stands in the foreground with a bearded man in the background - both wearing suitsImage source, Reuters

    Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz says the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will follow the government’s orders, regardless of its top official's opinion on plans to expand its operations in Gaza.

    It comes after IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly opposed politicians over plans to take full control of the Gaza Strip.

    He is said to have warned the prime minister that expanding Israel’s military occupation would put the remaining Israeli hostages in danger and exhaust the army.

    In a social media post, Katz says it is Zamir’s “right and duty to express his position in the appropriate forums".

    But after Israel's political leaders make decisions, the IDF will carry them out "with determination and professionalism,” he says.

  2. Deaths due to malnutrition in Gaza rise to 193, Hamas-run health ministry sayspublished at 09:09 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    In its latest update, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says it has recorded five deaths as a result of malnutrition in the last 24 hours.

    It says this brings the total number of deaths due to "famine and malnutrition" in the Gaza Strip to 193, including 96 children.

  3. 20 Palestinians killed in food truck incident, Hamas-run media office sayspublished at 09:04 British Summer Time

    Gaza's Hamas-run government media office says 20 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured overnight when a truck carrying food "overturned" on a crowd.

    In a statement, it alleges Israel "forced" the truck to "enter via unsafe routes" that had been damaged by bombing.

    The incident happened around midnight near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal tells the AFP news agency.

    The Israeli military tells AFP it is looking into the reports, and the BBC has asked for comment from Cogat, the Israeli military body which oversees the entry of aid into Gaza.

    The latest figures from the UN indicate more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since late May.

    The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely on the situation there.

  4. UK wants to end bloodshed, bring hostages home and lay foundation for Palestinian state, UN representative sayspublished at 08:41 British Summer Time

    UK ambassador Barbara Woodward speaks at the security councilImage source, Reuters

    As we've been reporting this morning, a UN official has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza.

    That was during a meeting of the UN Security Council last night.

    Speaking at that meeting, the UK's permanent representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, said there was a "rare moment of hope" at the beginning of the year with a ceasefire, but since it ended “the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed new and shocking depths”.

    Woodward condemned to the council the “depraved” images of hostage Evyatar David and other “emaciated hostages paraded in front of cameras for propaganda”, saying that Hamas and its “terrorist ideology can have no place in future governance of Gaza”.

    She also called on Israel to act to alleviate the “horrendous suffering” of Palestinian civilians, calling attention to a report on the "famine now unfolding in Gaza" by the IPC - a UN-backed monitor - and recalling stories from doctors of children with “festered” wounds that can’t heal due to malnutrition.

    “The UK is ready to play its full and historic part in achieving a plan which ends the bloodshed, brings the hostages home and lays the foundation for a Palestinian state,” Woodward said.

  5. IDF chief opposes Netanyahu's Gaza takeover plan, Israeli media reportspublished at 08:19 British Summer Time

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported plan has been met with some opposition in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli media reports.

    In a meeting with Netanyahu and a small group of ministers yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly said full occupation would endanger the remaining hostages and exhaust the army.

    Other Israeli military and intelligence officials reportedly favouring working towards a ceasefire-hostage deal include the IDF's hostages chief Nitzan Alon and Mossad chief David Barnea.

    Responding to reports that Zamir and other military leaders oppose the plan, local journalists quote a senior official as saying: "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign."

  6. Trump ‘focused’ on food in Gaza, says question of occupation is ‘up to Israel’published at 07:55 British Summer Time

    A close up of Trump speaking at a lectern. He pinches his forefinger and thumb together in gesture as he speaksImage source, EPA

    US President Donald Trump says he is “focused" on food distribution in Gaza, while the issue of Israel reoccupying the Strip is "going to be pretty much up to Israel".

    Asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported Israel reoccupying all of Gaza, Trump said: "Well, I don't know what the suggestion is. I know that we are there now trying to get people fed."

    He added that people in Gaza "are obviously not doing too well with the food", and that "Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution and also money."

    "So that's what I'm focused on. As far as the rest of it, I really can't say, that's going to be pretty much up to Israel," he said.

  7. Plan would see military go into areas where Palestinians are now concentratedpublished at 07:41 British Summer Time

    As we've just been reporting, after almost two years of war Israel's military says it has operational control of 75% of the Gaza Strip.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported plan would see Israel's military move to occupy the entire territory – going into areas where more than two million Palestinians are now concentrated.

    The Israeli military has previously held back from some areas, including parts of central Gaza, because of an assumption that there are living hostages held there.

    Some 87% of Gaza is under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders, according to the UN.

    Map of the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas, showing regions under Israeli military control or evacuation orders highlighted. The UN says 87% of Gaza is under these areas. Key locations labelled include Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Al-Mawasi. An inset map shows Gaza's location within Israel. The map is sourced from OCHA (30 July).
  8. 'We're going for the full conquest of Gaza' - what is Israel's reported plan?published at 07:25 British Summer Time

    Yolande Knell
    Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

    Israel's military says it already has operational control of 75% of Gaza, but the new plan would reportedly propose occupying the entire region - including areas where more than two million Palestinians now live.

    "The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas," local journalists quote a senior official as saying.

    It is unclear what that would mean for civilians and for the operations of the UN and other aid groups.

    About 90% of Gaza's 2.1 million people have been displaced, some repeatedly, and are living in overcrowded and dire conditions. Humanitarian groups and UN officials say many are starving, accusing Israel of impeding the distribution of crucial aid.

    Yesterday Israel said it will allow local businesspeople in Gaza to restart entry of some goods as part of efforts to improve conditions there. Private imports were previously stopped because of claims that Hamas was benefitting.

    Palestinians point out that far-right Israeli ministers have been openly advocating for the full occupation and annexation of Gaza and ultimately want to build new Jewish settlements there.

  9. Potential Gaza reoccupation plan ‘deeply alarming’, says UN officialpublished at 07:14 British Summer Time

    Netanyahu’s reported plan to reoccupy Gaza would be "deeply alarming" and could endanger the lives of more Palestinians as well as Israeli hostages held by Hamas, a UN official says.

    Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that under international law, Gaza "is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state".

    Jenča reiterated to the UN Security Council the call for a ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

    He adds that Palestinians in Gaza face "squalid" and "inhumane" conditions, and urges Israel to immediately allow the unimpeded passage of sufficient aid.

  10. Fears move could put lives of Palestinians and hostages at riskpublished at 07:07 British Summer Time

    Yolande Knell
    Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

    On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a security meeting at which he’s reported to have come out in favour of the Israeli military taking full control of the Palestinian territory.

    Such a move still needs the approval of the security cabinet, which is due to meet tomorrow.

    US President Donald Trump has indicated that he won’t interfere with Israeli plans.

    Pressed by reporters on whether he’d support an Israeli plan to reoccupy all of Gaza, President Trump responded: "That’s pretty much going to be up to Israel."

    There are fears that a new escalation of the war in Gaza – where experts say that famine is unfolding – would put the lives of more Palestinians, and about 20 living Israeli hostages, at risk.

    It’s been suggested that the plan could be a negotiating tactic to pressure Hamas after a recent breakdown of ceasefire talks – or an attempt to shore up support from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners.

  11. UN official condemns Netanyahu's reported push for full Gaza takeoverpublished at 07:07 British Summer Time

    Two women and a boy look through debris in a Gaza campImage source, AFP via Getty Images

    A UN official has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza, after reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for total reoccupation of the strip.

    It comes after a recent breakdown in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage deal.

    There are reports that some military leaders oppose the move, and the families of hostages fear the plans could endanger their loved ones.

    In recent weeks there has been growing international pressure over the war in Gaza, where experts say famine is unfolding.