Netanyahu reveals military directives, as the save mission of captives becomes a focus of the United Nations Security Council's discussion...
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Security Council has announced an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of hostages being held in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing for a full military takeover of Gaza, a phased plan that could displace around a million Palestinians and aim to destroy remaining Hamas capabilities. This move comes amid collapsed ceasefire talks and protests related to the hostages.
Negotiations for a ceasefire remain deadlocked. While past proposals involved staged hostage releases over a 60-day truce, Israel and the US are now considering demanding Hamas release all hostages immediately and agree to disarmament as part of a permanent ceasefire. Hamas is expected to reject this ultimatum, which has caused Israel to threaten escalating military operations, including full occupation of Gaza.
The Trump administration has signaled support for Israel’s reoccupation plan but is also exploring an “all-for-all” hostage exchange strategy involving a cessation of hostilities, release of hostages, increased humanitarian aid, and an eventual Israeli withdrawal possibly linked to an interim Arab security force.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Over 500,000 people—25% of Gaza’s population—face famine, and all 320,000 children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition with life-long consequences. UN experts have called for Israel to restore unimpeded access to impartial humanitarian organizations such as UNRWA and OCHA, denouncing the use of starvation as weaponized warfare and condemning disruptions of effective aid delivery.
In response to the crisis, nearly 600 former security officials in Israel, including from Mossad and Shin Bet, have called on US President Donald Trump to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza. The former security officials believe that ending the war will bring the hostages home.
Meanwhile, Germany is considering bringing children from Gaza for treatment, but the feasibility depends on the security situation and the possibility of leaving the country.
The movement of "Commanders for Israel's Security" (CIS) has made public a letter signed by 550 former spy chiefs, military, police, and diplomats, urging an immediate ceasefire and hostage release.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, announced an emergency meeting on social media, showing videos of two weakened Israeli hostages. Hamas, on the other hand, has demanded the opening of humanitarian corridors for the passage of food and medicine in the besieged Palestinian territory threatened with general famine.
Amidst these developments, the Prime Minister stated that the war objectives have been set and that they are in the middle of an intense war with important, historic successes. A project backed by the United Arab Emirates, with Israel's approval, is set to begin in the coming weeks: a 6.7-kilometer pipeline from a desalination station on the Egyptian coast will transport water to the coastal area of al-Mawassi, between Khan Younes and Rafah.
These factors collectively indicate a tense and complex situation with high human costs and unresolved political and security challenges. The international community is urged to push for a ceasefire, hostage release, accountability for international crimes, and the realization of Palestinian self-determination in a secure independent state.
- The international community is discussing various topics in the United Nations, including the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which is also affecting the discourse on health-and-wellness, given the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 500,000 people face famine.
- The ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have entered a critical stage, with Israeli and US officials considering demanding Hamas to release all hostages immediately and agree to disarmament as part of a permanent ceasefire, while Hamas is expected to reject this ultimatum, which could lead to increased violence and war-and-conflicts.
- Meanwhile, amidst the war in Gaza, politics and diplomacy continue to play a significant role, with Germany considering bringing children from Gaza for treatment and the movement of "Commanders for Israel's Security" urging an immediate ceasefire and hostage release.
