West denounces Israel’s deadly strikes on Gaza
Israel’s relentless strikes on the Gaza Strip even prompted Western countries to react as the regime has killed hundreds of Palestinians over the past days.
Palestinian health authorities said on Saturday that at least 146 people had been confirmed killed in the third day of Israel’s latest bombing campaign, one of the deadliest waves of strikes since a cease-fire collapsed in March. Many hundreds more wounded were being treated in hospital, and countless others were still buried under rubble.
Israel says it is mobilizing to seize more ground in Gaza in a new campaign, dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariots”, which follows a visit this week to the Middle East by US President Donald Trump. It has halted all supplies entering Gaza since the start of March, leading to rising international concern over the plight of the territory’s 2.3 million residents.
Israel’s military said it was conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing troops with the aim of achieving “operational control” in parts of Gaza.
Gaza health authorities said most of those killed on Saturday were in towns on the northern edge of the territory, including Beit Lahiya and the Jabalia refugee camp, as well as in the southern city of Khan Younis. They said 459 people had been injured.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Berlin is “deeply concerned” about the situation in Gaza.
The offensive “could put the lives of the remaining hostages, including those of German hostages, in danger,” said the ministry statement.
“A broad military offensive also risks worsening further the catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gaza’s population and the remaining hostages,” it added.
‘Enough with the attacks’
Also on Saturday, Italy urged Israel to stop its military strikes, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying, “Enough with the attacks.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Israel’s withholding of aid to Gaza is “shameful” and suggested that US President Donald Trump should threaten a weapons embargo in order to pressure the Israeli officials. Israeli forces had told people to leave the northern areas on Friday.
At an Arab League summit, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi, whose country mediates Gaza peace talks alongside Qatar, said Israel’s actions aimed at “obliterating and annihilating” the Palestinians and “ending their existence in the Gaza Strip.”
Halt massacre in Gaza
Appearing at the summit as a guest, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appealed for increased pressure “to halt the massacre in Gaza”.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres told the summit that “we need a permanent cease-fire, now.”
Guterres said he was “alarmed by reported plans by Israel to expand ground operations and more.”
“We reject the repeated displacement of the Gaza population, along with any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza.” Since the beginning of Israel’s attacks on Gaza in October 2023, at least 53,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed.