Netanyahu to Address International Press on Gaza Occupation Decision

Escalation in Gaza and Public Reaction

• ⚠️ 37 people were killed by Israeli fire on Saturday, including civilians waiting for aid, and 11 adults died from malnutrition-related causes.
• 💔 Ceasefire efforts are reportedly reviving with US special envoy Steve Wood expected to meet Qatar's prime minister, while Egypt and Qatar prepare a new framework.
• 📣 Public opinion polls indicate an overwhelming majority of Israelis favor an immediate end to the war, with weekly protests continuing nationwide.
• 📢 These demonstrations were the first since Israel announced its plan to occupy Gaza City, a move seen as a dramatic escalation.

Hostage Families' Plea and Past Warnings

• 🚨 Families of hostages are urging Israel's largest companies, trade unions, and the tech sector to act to save their loved ones.
• 😥 They express extreme danger for the hostages, stating that the decision to send the army deeper into Gaza is a direct threat.
• 🗣️ This echoes events from July 2024, when Netanyahu allegedly walked away from a temporary ceasefire deal, resulting in the deaths of six hostages.

Netanyahu's Silence and Unclear Plans

• 🤐 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not spoken publicly since the cabinet's decision to expand the war in Gaza.
• 📰 He is scheduled to hold a press conference with international media in Jerusalem on Sunday, with hints of an Israeli media conference later.
• ❓ Confirmation from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suggests no operational plans were presented to ministers, who reportedly rubber-stamped Netanyahu's intentions.
• military leadership, who opposed the takeover, may also not have received specific operational orders.