© Reuters. Members of the crew and port personnel examine the cargo ship loaded with humanitarian assist for Gaza within the port of Larnaca, Cyprus March 16, 2024. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
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By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ari Rabinovitch
CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday he would stick with the army marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas in Gaza, the place assist businesses say famine is looming, whereas ceasefire talks had been set to renew.
Netanyahu instructed a cupboard assembly that Israel would push into Rafah, the final comparatively secure place within the tiny, crowded Gaza enclave after greater than 5 months of battle, regardless of worldwide strain for Israel to keep away from civilian casualties.
“We’ll function in Rafah. This may take a number of weeks, and it’ll occur,” he stated, with out clarifying if he meant the assault would final for weeks or would start in weeks.
He later stated after assembly German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem that Israel wouldn’t go away civilians trapped in Rafah when its forces start their assault.
Israel’s allies have piled strain on Netanyahu to not assault Rafah, the place greater than 1,000,000 displaced folks from different elements of the devastated enclave have sought shelter, with out a plan to guard civilians.
At a joint information convention, Scholz stated he had spoken with Netanyahu about the necessity to present complete humanitarian assist to the folks in Gaza.
“We can not stand by and watch Palestinians threat hunger,” Scholz stated, echoing a name from European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, visiting neighbouring Egypt on the identical time, for a ceasefire deal and extra assist for Gaza.
“It’s crucial to realize an settlement on a ceasefire quickly now that frees (Israel’s) hostages and permits extra humanitarian assist to achieve Gaza,” von der Leyen stated after assembly Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
On the cupboard assembly, Netanyahu had hit out at his allies, saying: “Are your reminiscences that quick? Have you ever so shortly forgotten October 7, essentially the most horrific bloodbath of Jews for the reason that Holocaust? Are you so fast to disclaim Israel the suitable to defend itself in opposition to the Hamas monsters?”.
Hamas fighters killed 1,200 folks and seized 253 hostages within the Oct. 7 assault in keeping with Israeli tallies, triggering an enormous assault on Gaza.
Israel’s air and floor marketing campaign within the enclave has killed greater than 31,600 folks say well being authorities in Hamas-run Gaza, pushed a lot of the inhabitants from their houses and introduced them to the brink of famine in keeping with assist businesses.
A supply aware of truce talks in Qatar instructed Reuters the top of Israel’s Mossad intelligence company would be part of the delegation attending the negotiations with Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators.
Hamas offered a brand new ceasefire proposal final week together with an change of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Israel’s safety cupboard is to satisfy to debate it earlier than the delegation leaves.
Netanyahu has already stated the proposal was based mostly on “unrealistic calls for”, however a Palestinian official aware of mediation efforts stated possibilities for a deal regarded higher with Hamas having given extra particulars on the proposed prisoner swap.
“Some in Israel felt (Hamas) made some enchancment on its earlier place and it’s now within the fingers of Netanyahu alone to say whether or not an settlement is imminent,” stated the official, who requested to not be named.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, in an obvious reference to the negotiations, stated the safety institution “is dedicated to exhausting each chance and prepared to reap the benefits of each chance, together with the present one, to return the hostages to their households”.
AID DELIVERY
Vans of flour have reached northern Gaza for distribution to areas which have had no assist in 4 months, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.
A convoy of 12 vehicles arrived within the north on Saturday carrying provides to be distributed to the northernmost areas, the media and residents stated.
The Hamas-linked House Entrance media outlet reported that the help was distributed by the “Fashionable Committees”, a gaggle that features leaders of highly effective clans in Gaza. A Hamas supply stated the route was secured by Hamas safety personnel.
Hospitals within the north have already reported youngsters dying of malnutrition and dehydration.