JERUSALEM, Sept 3 (NNN-XINHUA) – Recalcitrant Netanyahu said last night that, the Israeli regime was entering “the decisive stage” of the war in Gaza, seeking to rally support among reservists, and countered reports of low turnout for the latest call-up.
In a video statement, Netanyahu addressed soldiers directly: “I want to strengthen you and express my deep appreciation,” he said, adding that, the military campaign had advanced Israel “towards a sweeping victory.”
Yesterday morning, the Israeli regime summoned about 40,000 reservists, the largest single call-up, since the war began nearly two years ago, as part of its plan to capture Gaza City – a move approved by Netanyahu’s barbarous cabinet, despite international warnings.
But turnout was reportedly lower than expected, according to state-owned Kan TV, which cited the strain and burden of repeated rounds of service.
The cabinet decision has also sparked dissent at home. More than 350 reservists announced in a letter yesterday that, they would refuse to serve, if ordered into Gaza.
At a news conference in Tel Aviv, they denounced the regime’s decision as reckless, and vowed not to take part. Ron Feiner, a reservist and member of the antiwar group, Standing Together, called the planned operation “blatantly illegal,” and warned it would endanger hostages, soldiers and civilians alike. “This is a political, cynical and dangerous step, intended to serve an extremist minority, rather than the security of Israel’s citizens,” he said.
Feiner noted that, senior members of the regime’s security establishment, had also warned against the operation, citing the danger it posed to 50 hostages still held in Gaza, about 20 of them believed to be alive.
Meanwhile, the trigger-happy military, continued the strikes throughout the Palestinian enclave, and prepared for the new offensive on the territory’s largest urban centre.
Health authorities in Gaza, reported yesterday that, at least 76 more Palestinian people were murdered and 281 injured, by Israeli strikes and gunfire, in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 63,633. Hospitals also recorded 13 deaths from famine and malnutrition, including three children, raising the total number of hunger-related deaths to 361, among them 130 children.
Avichay Adraee, the belligerent Israeli military spokesman, urged civilians across the Gaza Strip to move to the Al-Mawasi area “ahead of the expansion of fighting into Gaza City.”
“For your safety, we warn that, approaching or returning to combat zones or areas where the Israel Defence Forces are operating, exposes you to danger,” he wrote on the social media platform X.
Families of hostages, in a statement in English and Hebrew, outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, urged U.S. President, Donald Trump, to press both Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal to stop the war and release the captives.
“It is hard to digest the news that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, chose to prolong the war, instead of making a deal that could have brought the hostages home,” said Ruby Chen, whose son, Itay, was killed in Gaza and whose body is still held there.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been stalled since mid-Aug, as Israel has yet to respond to a proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators that Hamas have accepted, about two weeks ago.– NNN-XINHUA
