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As it happenedended

Israel-Gaza latest: Netanyahu says all of Gaza will be under Israeli control ‘in the end’

UN says it has been unable to distribute food to Gaza despite Israel lifting an 11-week blockade

Bel Trew
Chief international correspondent
,Rachel Clun,Athena Stavrou
Thursday 22 May 2025 16:44 BST
Comments
Few aid trucks enter Gaza after Israel's nearly three-months complete blockade

Benjamin Netanyahu has said that all of the Gaza Strip will be under Israeli security control “in the end”, as dozens more Palestinians are killed in Israeli attacks.

On Wednesday, the Israeli prime minister told a press conference that the entire enclave would come under Israeli control eventually, and that Israel had probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar after a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month.

The statement comes as Netanyahu is facing growing international pressure, as the UN warns no humanitarian aid has reached starving Palestinians in Gaza yet - even after an 11-week blockade was lifted this week.

Hospital officials said on Wednesday that a newborn baby and several women are among at least 82 people who have been killed in Gaza after Israeli strikes overnight.

A nurse has said conditions at Nasser Hospital are “beyond critical” and the hospital that was once a “major lifeline” is now barely functioning.

“Many patients die simply because we cannot treat them in time,” the nurse, called Ahmad, told The Independent.

Meanwhile, the UK government is facing pressure to sanction ministers in Israel’s government.

Netanyahu speaking

Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a press conference, as pressure continues to mount on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to scale back its military offensive.

He has said Israel has probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, and that if there is an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal “Israel will be open to it”, Reuters reported.

(Sky News)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 18:29

All of Gaza will ultimately come under Israeli control, Netanyahu says

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently giving a press conference.

After he claimed Israel has probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, he said: “All of Gaza Strip will be under the security control of Israel.”

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 18:33

‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel continues to pound Gaza as aid still struggles to get through

Palestinians in Gaza were still desperately waiting for the food aid to arrive despite mounting pressure on the Israeli government to ease its military offensive and allow more humanitarian supplies into the territory.

The Israeli military continued its renewed attack on Gaza overnight on Wednesday, killing at least 82 including a week-old baby and several women, Gaza’s hospital officials said.

The ongoing attacks come despite international and domestic pressure to allow essential humanitarian aid to flow to 2 million Palestinians in Gaza on the brink of a famine after an 11-week blockade.

Read the full story:

‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel pounds Gaza as aid struggles to get through

The Israeli military continued its renewed attack on Gaza overnight on Wednesday, killing at least 82 including a week-old baby and several women, Gaza’s hospital officials said
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 19:02

At least 15 aid trucks enter Gaza, two merchants say

At least 15 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom, two merchants familiar with the matter have said.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that the trucks are crossing en route to World Food Program warehouses in central Gaza.

International and domestic pressure has been mounting on the Israeli government to allow more aid to reach a population on the brink of famine after an 11-week blockade.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press All rights reserved)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 19:15

Pictured: Netanyahu holds first press conference in months

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 19:37

100 aid trucks entered into Gaza, Israeli military says

The Israeli military has said 100 aid trucks carrying flour, baby food and medical equipment have entered into the Gaza strip on Wednesday.

However, UN officials said earlier distribution problems had meant that no aid had so far reached people in need.

(AP)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 20:06

Palestinian deal with Lebanon on weapons

The Lebanese and Palestinian presidents have agreed that Palestinian factions won't use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against Israel, and to remove weapons that aren't under the authority of the Lebanese state.

The announcement was made during a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Lebanon's government is seeking to establish authority throughout the country, mainly in the south near the border with Israel after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war that ended in late November with a ceasefire.

The 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are not under the control of the Lebanese state, and Palestinian factions in the camps have different types of weapons.

Rival groups have clashed inside the camps in recent years, inflicting casualties and affecting nearby areas.

Jane Dalton21 May 2025 20:28

Pictured: Smoke billows from Gaza as Israeli bombardment continues

A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke billowing above destroyed buildings during Israeli bombardment in the besieged Palestinian territory on May 21, 2025
A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke billowing above destroyed buildings during Israeli bombardment in the besieged Palestinian territory on May 21, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)
A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke billowing above destroyed buildings during Israeli bombardment in the besieged Palestinian territory on May 21, 2025
A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke billowing above destroyed buildings during Israeli bombardment in the besieged Palestinian territory on May 21, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 21:02

UK minister condemns Israeli military after British diplomats caught in shooting

Israel must hold an investigation after British diplomats were caught up in shooting by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, a Foreign Office minister has said.

A group of western diplomats faced warning shots from the Israel Defence Forces while visiting the city of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday.

Two British diplomats understood to be among the group of around 20 people have been confirmed as safe.

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer described the events in Jenin as “unacceptable”.

He added: “I have spoken to our diplomats who were affected. Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation and those responsible should be held accountable.”

Members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union stand behind a gate on the eastern entrance of Jenin camp
Members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union stand behind a gate on the eastern entrance of Jenin camp (AFP/Getty)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 21:29

Who are the Israeli ministers potentially facing UK sanctions?

Keir Starmer is on the verge of sanctioning senior members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government - and it’s understood that Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich are at the top of the list.

Ben-Gvir is a far-right politician, who earlier this year resigned from cabinet in response to approved plans to begin a three-phase ceasefire with Hamas. He returned to the government two months later when fighting resumed, as Israeli’s Haaretz reported.

Last week he said the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza should be promoted, the Times of Israel reported.

Ben-Gvir
Ben-Gvir (AP)

Smotrich did not resign as a minister alongside Ben-Gvir, but he is also a far-right politician and a settler living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to Haaretz.

Earlier this month, he bragged that Israel was “finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip,” before saying the territory would be “totally destroyed” within months, the Times of Israel reports.

More recently he also vowed to only allow “the minimum necessary” amount of aid into Gaza, the Times said.

Smotrich has said Gaza would be 'totally destroyed' within months
Smotrich has said Gaza would be 'totally destroyed' within months (EPA)
Athena Stavrou21 May 2025 22:02

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