Jerusalem, Aug 5 (AP) — Former top officials from Israel's army and intelligence sectors have urged an end to the conflict in Gaza, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the possibility of escalating military operations and Israel's government deliberated its next steps in the heavily affected region.
In Gaza, there were reports of additional fatalities on Tuesday among Palestinians attempting to acquire food at distribution centers. Meanwhile, COGAT, the Israeli defense body managing aid to Gaza, declared a new initiative with local merchants to enhance aid distribution amid growing despair.
The call to end the conflict came from former leaders of the Shin Bet internal security service, Mossad intelligence agency, and the Israeli military. The officials, through a three-minute video shared on social media, claimed that extremist elements within the government were extending the conflict, thereby putting the nation’s security and identity at risk. “This is leading the state of Israel to the loss of its security and its identity,” said Ami Ayalon, former Shin Bet chief.
Yoram Cohen, another former Shin Bet head, criticized Netanyahu's war goals as “a fantasy,” stating that complete military success and the safe retrieval of hostages are unattainable.
Next stage of the war — Netanyahu announced on Monday plans to convene his Security Cabinet soon to determine the army’s future actions in Gaza and hinted at harsher military strategies.
Netanyahu reiterated his dedication to his war agenda, which includes dismantling Hamas, liberating all hostages, and ensuring Gaza poses no future threat to Israel.
Israeli news outlets indicated a likely Tuesday meeting, with reported disputes between Netanyahu and Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the army chief, concerning the next phase. Reports from anonymous sources in Netanyahu's office claim the prime minister is urging the army to seize complete control of Gaza, a strategy that could jeopardize hostages and aggravate Gaza's humanitarian crisis, while further isolating Israel globally.
Reports also suggest Zamir’s opposition to such measures, hinting he might resign or be dismissed if such plans advance.
Aid through local merchants — Several Palestinians have reportedly been killed since May by Israeli fire near food distribution sites, airborne aid parcels, and aid convoys within Gaza. Israeli officials, however, claim only warning shots were fired, challenging the reported death toll.
COGAT announced on platform X about a “gradual and controlled renewal” of goods entry through Gaza’s private sector, aiming to boost aid availability and lessen reliance on U.N. and international organization distributions.
A handful of local merchants were sanctioned for the scheme, designated to supply basic foodstuffs, baby nutrition, produce, and hygiene products through bank transactions, stated COGAT.
Deaths while seeking aid — Local health reports described Israeli forces opening fire in central and southern Gaza on Tuesday, killing 25 people, with 19 fatalities reported in southern Gaza. Twelve of these deaths occurred near Morag corridor and Teina area, approximately 3 km from the humanitarian hub in Khan Younis, according to Nasser hospital and the Ministry of Health.
However, the Ministry, operating under the Hamas regime, does not differentiate between militants and civilians and is considered a reliable source for casualty figures by the U.N. and other international entities.
In central Gaza, Al-Awda hospital confirmed receiving the bodies of six Palestinians reportedly shot by Israeli troops near an aid distribution site run by the GHF, which denied any incidents at their facilities that day.
Stained with humiliation and blood — Khan Younis’s Mohammed Qassas revealed the dire food situation forcing individuals to riskily intercept aid trucks, describing it as a “mafia-like system.”
Qassas asserted, “I have young children, how am I supposed to feed them? No one has mercy. This resembles the end of the world,” adding risks involved in securing aid amidst chaotic and dangerous conditions near the trucks.
Gaza residents, he explained, are often seen returning with modest bags of flour, alongside wounded and deceased from the conflicts surrounding aid distributions.
Yusif Abu Mor echoed this sentiment, deeming the aid retrieval process a dire gamble for survival, noting, “This aid is stained with humiliation and blood,” with attendees vulnerable to gunfire or accidents involving aid vehicles.
Slide toward famine — Israel’s ongoing blockade and military operations have severely hampered safe aid delivery, threatening to tip the territory into famine almost two years into the conflict with Hamas. While Israel’s recent moves to increase aid remain inadequate, hostage families in Gaza fear starvation risks extend to their captives, though blame Hamas for their plight.
As global concern rises, various countries have resorted to airdropping supplies over Gaza, a method international aid groups criticize for its expense, risks to residents, and limited delivery capacity compared to ground conveyance. (AP) RD RD
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