Gaza latest: Netanyahu’s plan for military takeover of Gaza means ‘sacrificing’ hostages, say Hamas – UK Times

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has accused the Israeli government of abandoning captives held in Gaza.

The group said the decision to pursue further escalation ignores repeated warnings from military officials and “the clear will of the majority of the Israeli public”.

“By choosing military escalation over negotiation, we are leaving our loved ones at the mercy of Hamas,” the forum said. “They don’t have any time left. We can’t leave them in the hands of these monsters any longer.”

They warned that deepening the offensive risked a “colossal catastrophe” for both the remaining hostages and Israeli soldiers.

“The cabinet chose last night to embark on another march of recklessness,” it added.

The group, which represents the families of those still missing, reiterated its demand for a comprehensive deal to secure the release of hostages.

“No more futile war. We will not stand by. We demand a comprehensive deal now.”

Israel’s decision to take over Gaza City “must have consequences for EU-Israel relations”, EU Council President Antonio Costa said, adding that this will be assessed by the Council and that he urged the Israeli government to reconsider.

“Not only (does the decision) violate the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19 but also undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values,” Costa, who heads the European Council that represents EU member states, added in his statement on X.

US vice president JD Vance said the US has “no plans” to recognise a state of Palestine during a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House.

He said: “Obviously the United Kingdom’s going to make its decision. We have no plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

“I don’t know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state, given the lack of functional government there.”

He added that the US government’s two goals are “very simple”, saying: “Number one, it’s we want to make it so that Hamas cannot attack innocent Israeli civilians ever again, and we think that has to come through the eradication of Hamas.

“Second, the president has been very moved by these terrible images of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, so we want to make sure that we solve that problem.

“I think all of us can work on how to solve that problem. Obviously, it’s not an easy problem to solve, or it would have already been dealt with, but we share, I think, that focus and that goal. We may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal, and we’ll talk about that today.”

International condemnation is growing after Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to take full military control of Gaza City. Here’s how global leaders have responded:

UK: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the decision is “wrong” and urged Israel to “reconsider immediately.” He warned it “will only bring more bloodshed” and not help secure the release of hostages.

Turkey: The foreign ministry condemned the plan “in the strongest terms” and called on the UN Security Council to intervene. It said each step by Israel “to continue genocide and occupation” undermines global security.

UN: Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the move contradicts the International Court of Justice’s ruling and “will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering.” He urged Israel to “allow full, unfettered humanitarian aid” and called for hostages to be “immediately and unconditionally released.”

Netherlands: Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called the plan “a wrong move” and said it would not improve Gaza’s “catastrophic” humanitarian situation or help free hostages.

Belgium: Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot summoned the Israeli ambassador, expressing “total disapproval” of the decision and of Israel’s “continued colonization” and “desire to annex the West Bank.”

Denmark: Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the decision was wrong and should be “immediately reversed.”

European Commission: President Ursula von der Leyen said Israel must “reconsider” the expansion of its military operation in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia: The foreign ministry “categorically denounces” Israel’s “crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing,” and condemned any move to take control of Gaza.

Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin will suspend military exports that could be used in Gaza, adding that the decision “makes it increasingly difficult” to see how Israel’s objectives can be achieved. He acknowledged Israel’s right to disarm Hamas but cited growing public pressure over the humanitarian crisis.

David Lammy said he would be discussing the “developing situation in Gaza” and the ongoing war in Ukraine with JD Vance.

Sitting alongside the US vice-president at the start of a bilateral meeting at Chevening House, the Foreign Secretary said: “Of course we will be discussing the developing situation in Gaza, which is a great concern, and of course the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the desire to see that come to an end.”

The pair are due to hold a formal bilateral meeting on Friday afternoon before Mr Vance continues with his holiday.

By Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor

The prime minister is facing growing calls to end all UK arms sales to Israel.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Rather than sitting on its hands and issuing strongly worded statements, the UK government needs to take decisive action. Keir Starmer needs to stop the export of all UK arms to Israel – today – and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet.”

MP Brian Leishman, who was suspended from Labour last month, said: “The UK needs to end arms sales to Israel.”

Green MP Ellie Chowns said “The UK must do more than express disapproval: end military cooperation and arms sales, recognise Palestine, demand an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes.”

But former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said the UK had already done what Germany has done “many months ago”.

“They made some exemptions, including parts for the F35 fighter jet for various technical reasons, but they have suspended arms that can possibly be used in Gaza. And they have really taken most of the available steps. The real harsh truth is there is almost nothing the British government can do which is going to influence Netanyahu and his calculations about what to do in Gaza. By all means we should consider every possible step, but that is the reality,” he told the BBC.

Our World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes:

Benjamin Netanyahu believes he has finally found a solution for Gaza. Total reoccupation of the 365sqkm of territory and the mass evacuation of its population in a “takeover” that mutilates Israel’s internal democracy and risks placing it near the very top of pariah nations.

This a defining moment that could further divide Europe from America – where Donald Trump is reported to have been briefed in advance on the Gaza plan.

Israel’s military and intelligence establishment know that they’re being marched into a trap set by Hamas but on Netanyahu’s instructions.

Read the full analysis below:

By Nedal Hamdouna, in Gaza

A displaced Palestinian man in Gaza City has warned that a new Israeli ground offensive would trigger a “major catastrophe”, as fears grow over forced displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions.

Rafiq Abu Jarad, 54, told The Independent he is “anxious and tense” as people across Gaza face repeated displacement with nowhere left to go.

“There’s no place in the south because most of the southern areas are also under Israeli control, including Rafah,” he said.

“There are approximately one million people in the south, and here in Gaza, another million. There’s no room, and it will be a major catastrophe for us and for the one million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”

He said financial exhaustion and lack of shelter make the prospect of further displacement unbearable.

“I’m worried about another forced displacement, and the reason for my anxiety is that I have nowhere to go. I don’t have the money for displacement because displacement requires transportation, and transportation costs over 1,500 shekels. In addition, there are logistical needs, such as tents, toilets, and tarpaulins.”

“I’m financially exhausted, and I don’t have a tent or any other tent supplies to be displaced again. When a million people leave the Gaza Strip for another location, their living conditions will be extremely uncertain. We don’t know what we’ll do, and we don’t know where there will be space to accommodate us.”