Netanyahu argued to Trump that reports of starvation in the Strip are Hamas fabrication, but Trump cut him off sharply and said he was not prepared to hear that it was fake, adding that he had received proof that there are hungry children in Gaza.
According to British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters, as long as Israel recognized in principle the two-state solution, it enjoyed the world's protection, but once the annexation policy became official, Europe must express opposition.
During a multi-front situational assessment, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir made a veiled reference to recent tensions over the government’s reported intention to conquer the Gaza Strip, stating: “We are dealing with matters of life and death, with the defense of the state. And we do so while looking our soldiers and citizens straight in the eye.”
The flotilla, which will last about two hours, will proceed continuously without stopping at sea and is not expected to approach too close to Gaza's coast due to concerns over high trajectory fire.
As Israel's cabinet weighs a plan to sieze the last 25% of the Gaza Strip, fears grow within the IDF over potential Hamas abductions in an operation could cost up to $5.4 billion and last six months.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is expected to present the cabinet with the risks of launching a full scale operation in Gaza. According to Zamir, Hamas has had 22 months to prepare, the IDF does not hold a battlefield advantage, and the hostages could end up paying the price.
Turkish state photographer selectively documented Gaza suffering while omitting successful food distribution, BILD reports.
Netanyahu chooses complete military dismantlement of Hamas after Iran successfully blocked ceasefire negotiations through Qatar, with Trump offering limited support for offensive operations as European sanctions and UN recognition of Palestinian state create narrowing operational window.
Security officials characterize the aid increase as politically motivated, with some sources suggesting the expanded humanitarian framework could serve as groundwork for potential broader military operations in the Strip.
Netanyahu, ahead of key deliberations and amid reported rift with IDF, stresses unity as key to achieving war objectives of defeating enemy, releasing hostages and ensuring Gaza no longer threatens Israel.
