Israel plans to expand Gaza invasion and ‘crush and clean the area,’ its Defence Minister says
Meanwhile, Labour government toughens rhetoric against the genocide, but stops short of making any changes in policy or practical support for Israel
ISRAEL is expanding its invasion of Gaza to seize “large areas” to “crush and clean the area,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced today.
The move came as Gaza’s hospitals reported that an overnight air strike killed more than 50 people, with nearly a dozen being children and a United Nations clinic among the targets.
Mr Katz said the military’s latest offensive in the war-torn strip would involve “seizing large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel.”
He did not specify which areas of Gaza would be taken over, but called on Gaza residents to “expel Hamas and return all hostages.”
His statement came after Israel ordered the full evacuation of the southern city of Rafah and nearby areas.
The attack was discussed in Parliament today, where Labour toughened its rhetoric against Israel’s actions, but stopped short of offering the slightest change in policy or the practical support it is affording the genocide.
MPs across the Commons pressed the government to be more robust.
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said that Israel’s actions were “not about security, but about domination and erasure” of Palestinians.
Asking an urgent Commons question, Ms Denyer accused Israel of “the worst blockade since the war began” and stressed “what is happening is a genocide.”
When, she asked, would the government “take measures under international law against ongoing genocide, illegal occupation and apartheid?”
No time soon was the response from Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer.
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