This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/21/gaza-city-offensive-would-be-death-sentence-for-israeli-hostages-say-relatives

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Gaza City offensive would be ‘death sentence’ for Israeli hostages, say relatives UN and Red Cross warn of catastrophe if Israel launches Gaza City offensive
(about 2 hours later)
UN warns of ‘massive death and destruction’ if Netanyahu proceeds with plan for expanded military operation Israeli military tell aid groups to prepare for forced displacement as hostages’ relatives criticise the plan
An Israeli operation to occupy Gaza City would be a “death sentence” for the remaining living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, relatives of the hostages have said, as the Red Cross and UN warned of a looming catastrophe for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living there. The International Red Cross and UN have warned of an impending catastrophe in the Gaza Strip if Israel launches an offensive to take over Gaza City, as the Israeli military told medical and aid groups in the Palestinian territory to prepare for imminent forced displacement.
Opposition to a new operation – repeatedly “approved” by Israeli figures in recent days – is growing inside Israel and internationally. Calling for an immediate ceasefire, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, warned of the “massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause”. As a concerted campaign of international opposition to Israel’s defiance of ceasefire calls and over its approval of a huge new illegal settlement construction in the occupied West Bank gathered pace, the UK summoned Israel’s ambassador and joined 20 other countries in condemning the settlement plan as a “violation of international law”.
Christian Cardon, the chief spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said: “The intensification of hostilities in Gaza means more killing, more displacement, more destruction and more panic. Gaza is a closed space, from which nobody can escape … and where access to health care, food and safe water is dwindling. Meanwhile, the security of humanitarians is getting worse by the hour. This is intolerable.” The Gaza health ministry on Thursday rejected the call by the Israeli military to displace personnel in the north before a military offensive to seize the area, saying it would “deprive more than 1 million people of their right to medical treatment and expose the lives of residents, patients and the wounded to imminent danger”.
On Thursday, the IDF said medical officials and aid groups in the northern part of the territory had been told “to prepare for the population’s movement to the southern Gaza Strip”. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told Sky News Australia that Israel intended to take over the whole of the Gaza Strip, regardless of whether there was a ceasefire deal agreed with Hamas, in an operation the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza warned would be a “death sentence” for their relatives.
Aid organisations say Israel has made negligible efforts to significantly increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza to the levels needed by the population, prompting a warning from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, of the danger of a “true disaster”. In the interview apparently conducted earlier this week, Netanyahu was asked whether Israel would take over all of Gaza, even if Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal.
“We’re going to do that anyway,” said Netanyahu, who is wanted by the international criminal court over allegations of responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. “There was never a question that we’re not going to leave Hamas there.”
Calling for an immediate ceasefire, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, warned of the “massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause”.
Christian Cardon, the chief spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said: “The intensification of hostilities in Gaza means more killing, more displacement, more destruction and more panic.
“Gaza is a closed space, from which nobody can escape … and where access to health care, food and safe water is dwindling. Meanwhile, the security of humanitarians is getting worse by the hour. This is intolerable.”
Aid organisations say Israel has made negligible efforts to significantly increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza to the levels needed by the population, prompting a warning from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, earlier this week of the danger of a “true disaster”.
Opposition to a new military operation – repeatedly “approved” by Israeli figures in recent days – is growing inside Israel and internationally even as it appeared Netanyahu may be preparing the order for it to go ahead.
The families of Israeli hostages held a press conference to call for Israel to agree to a ceasefire deal – already accepted by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – which would result in half of the remaining 20 surviving hostages being released.The families of Israeli hostages held a press conference to call for Israel to agree to a ceasefire deal – already accepted by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – which would result in half of the remaining 20 surviving hostages being released.
“We’re a step away from a total torpedoing” of a deal, said Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband, Omri, is thought to still be alive in captivity. “There is an agreement on the table that could save the lives of hostages and return the dead for proper burial.“We’re a step away from a total torpedoing” of a deal, said Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband, Omri, is thought to still be alive in captivity. “There is an agreement on the table that could save the lives of hostages and return the dead for proper burial.
“Hamas has agreed, but the prime minister’s office is working to sabotage it, which would sentence the living hostages to death and the dead to disappearance … The public demands the return of the hostages and an end to the war, which has lost all sense. You cannot conduct a 22-month war whose sole purpose is to preserve political power.”“Hamas has agreed, but the prime minister’s office is working to sabotage it, which would sentence the living hostages to death and the dead to disappearance … The public demands the return of the hostages and an end to the war, which has lost all sense. You cannot conduct a 22-month war whose sole purpose is to preserve political power.”
Representatives from hostage families referred sceptically to the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated promises that Israel is close to victory. Representatives from hostage families referred sceptically to the Netanyahu’s repeated promises that Israel is close to victory.
Israel’s increasing defiance of international opinion has pushed it ever closer to the status of a pariah state, both for the destruction and mass starvation it has visited on Gaza in almost two years of war, and for its approval on Wednesday of a massive illegal settlement aimed at destroying any possibility of a future Palestinian state. The approval was described by the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, as a “flagrant breach” of international law.Israel’s increasing defiance of international opinion has pushed it ever closer to the status of a pariah state, both for the destruction and mass starvation it has visited on Gaza in almost two years of war, and for its approval on Wednesday of a massive illegal settlement aimed at destroying any possibility of a future Palestinian state. The approval was described by the British foreign secretary, David Lammy, as a “flagrant breach” of international law.
Netanyahu’s plans for a major new offensive have prompted large-scale demonstrations in Israel. About 400,000 joined a protest on Sunday and more demonstrations are planned for this weekend.Netanyahu’s plans for a major new offensive have prompted large-scale demonstrations in Israel. About 400,000 joined a protest on Sunday and more demonstrations are planned for this weekend.
A weakened Netanyahu appears to have bent to the demands of far-right minority parties in his fragile coalition who have called for the conquest of Gaza and threatened to collapse the government in the event of a ceasefire deal.A weakened Netanyahu appears to have bent to the demands of far-right minority parties in his fragile coalition who have called for the conquest of Gaza and threatened to collapse the government in the event of a ceasefire deal.
The Israeli military bombarded Gaza City overnight, a day after it was announced that 60,000 reservists were being called up. A military official said most reservists would not serve in combat, giving strength to the argument that at least some of Israel’s recent statements amount to posturing against the background of complex and continuing ceasefire talks.The Israeli military bombarded Gaza City overnight, a day after it was announced that 60,000 reservists were being called up. A military official said most reservists would not serve in combat, giving strength to the argument that at least some of Israel’s recent statements amount to posturing against the background of complex and continuing ceasefire talks.
In one attack, Israel struck an area of Deir al-Balah as a nearby street was crowded with civilians.
Calling up tens of thousands of reservists is likely to take weeks, giving time for mediators to attempt to bridge gaps over a new temporary ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, but the Israeli government is yet to officially respond to.Calling up tens of thousands of reservists is likely to take weeks, giving time for mediators to attempt to bridge gaps over a new temporary ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, but the Israeli government is yet to officially respond to.
That proposal, which aligns with an outline drawn up by the US president Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas militants and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners.That proposal, which aligns with an outline drawn up by the US president Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas militants and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners.
Significantly, Israel had signalled weeks ago that it accepted that outline for a deal, with the distance between Hamas and Israel’s negotiators only closing since.Significantly, Israel had signalled weeks ago that it accepted that outline for a deal, with the distance between Hamas and Israel’s negotiators only closing since.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet some cabinet ministers on Thursday to discuss his plan to seize Gaza City, according to Haaretz and other Israeli media outlets, without giving more details.Netanyahu is scheduled to meet some cabinet ministers on Thursday to discuss his plan to seize Gaza City, according to Haaretz and other Israeli media outlets, without giving more details.
The plan was approved this month by the security cabinet, which he chairs, even though many of Israel’s closest allies have urged the government to reconsider.The plan was approved this month by the security cabinet, which he chairs, even though many of Israel’s closest allies have urged the government to reconsider.
In Gaza City, thousands of Palestinians have left their homes as Israeli forces have escalated shelling on the Sabra and Tuffah neighbourhoods. Some families have left for shelters along the coast, while others have moved to central and southern parts of the territory, according to local people there.
“We are facing a bitter-bitter situation, to die at home or leave and die somewhere else: as long as this war continues, survival is uncertain,” said Rabah Abu Elias, 67, a father of seven.
“In the news, they speak about a possible truce; on the ground, we only hear explosions and see deaths. To leave Gaza City or not isn’t an easy decision to make,” he told Reuters by phone.