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.
Key Points
- Israel draws outcry from Europe as soldiers fire near diplomats on West Bank visit
- All of Gaza will ultimately come under Israeli control, Netanyahu says
- British surgeon in Gaza says it is now 'slaughterhouse' as 14,000 babies at risk of dying
- ‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel continues to pound Gaza as aid still struggles to get through
In pictures: Trucks carrying aid near Gaza
08:36 , Rachel ClunTrucks carrying aid are parked near the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, before going into Gaza, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border.
Aid agencies said on Wendesday they were still unable to distribute aid, with trucks stuck at the Kerem Shalom crossing despite Israel saying it would allow aid to begin to flow into the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu says all of Gaza will ultimately come under Israeli control
08:12 , Rachel ClunIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a rare press conference last night.
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.”
Watch: British surgeon in Gaza says it is now 'slaughterhouse' as 14,000 babies at risk of dying
07:01 , Athena StavrouPope Leo's full comments on Gaza aid
06:33 , Athena StavrouDuring his first Wednesday audience in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV appealed for aid to reach those who need it in Gaza.
“The situation in the Gaza Strip is increasingly worrying and painful,” he said.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, the heart-rending price of which is being paid by children, the elderly and the sick.”
‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel continues to pound Gaza as aid still struggles to get through
06:01 , Athena StavrouPalestinians in Gaza are 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 Tuesday, 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 the two million-plus Palestinians in Gaza on the brink of a famine after an 11-week blockade.
Read the full story here:
‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel pounds Gaza as aid struggles to get through
Watch: Ms. Rachel makes emotional plea for Gaza’s children
05:31 , Athena StavrouStarmer poised to sanction top Israel ministers over Gaza
04:48 , Athena StavrouKeir Starmer is on the verge of sanctioning senior members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the crisis in Gaza amid calls from MPs for tougher action against Israel.
The sanctions are being considered as alarm grows over the fate of thousands of Palestinians as the Israeli Defence Force steps up military operations and supplies continue to struggle to get through.
Top of the list are understood to be Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as others.
It comes a day after Britain issued fresh sanctions against Israel and suspended trade talks over its “morally unjustifiable” escalation of violence in Gaza, with foreign secretary David Lammy blasting Netanyahu’s actions as “wholly disproportionate”.
Read the full story:
Starmer poised to sanction top Israeli ministers as pressure grows for tougher action
Palestinian Authority president welcomes international pressure on Israel
04:01 , Athena StavrouMahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority has welcomed growing international pressure on Israel.
In a statement reported by Palestinian news agency Wafa, he said: "It is no longer possible to remain silent in the face of the crimes of genocide, destruction, and starvation perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces.”
He added: "We reiterate our welcome for the joint statement issued by the leaders of Britain, France, and Canada, as well as for the positions of the European Union countries, the joint statement of the donor countries, and the statement of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on this matter.
"They all rejected the policies of blockade, starvation, displacement, and land seizure.”
Israel draws outcry from Europe as soldiers fire near diplomats on West Bank visit
03:16 , Athena StavrouEuropean countries on Thursday condemned an incident where Israeli soldiers fired near a diplomatic delegation in the occupied West Bank, with Italy and France both summoning Israeli ambassadors to explain what happened.
The Israeli military said the delegation had "deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorised to be" and that soldiers fired "warning shots to distance them away." No injuries or damage were reported.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in a post on social media platform X, called the incident "unacceptable," while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel's ambassador to Italy would have to explain its actions.
The foreign ministry of Germany, a stalwart Israel ally, condemned what it called "unprovoked firing." It said the delegation to the West Bank city of Jenin was officially registered and was conducting diplomatic activities in coordination with both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Army.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called for an official probe.
Watch: British surgeon in Gaza says it is now 'slaughterhouse' as 14,000 babies at risk of dying
02:35 , Athena StavrouUK government to send £4mn of aid to Gaza
01:34 , Athena StavrouThe UK government will send £4 million worth of aid to Gaza, as it ramps up pressure on the Israeli government to lift a blockade on the region.
The aid will include essential medicines, safe drinking water and food parcels.
Minister for Development Jenny Chapman, who is visiting Israel and the occupied territories announced the new UK support during a visit to a Red Crescent centre, but expressed her frustration that much of it cannot yet reach them because of the Israeli restrictions.
“The lack of aid reaching ordinary Gazans is appalling,” she said. “The Israeli government’s failure to allow full humanitarian access to aid workers is abhorrent. Far too few trucks are crossing into Gaza.
“The UN has warned nearly half a million Palestinians, including children, are facing starvation.
“The UK is clear – Israel will not achieve security through prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people. I have heard first hand from aid workers today of the abominable impact of this behaviour on real families.
“The UK has today pledged new support for Gazans but the brutal reality is most of it is stuck in limbo.”
UN says Israel's attack on Gaza killed 28,000 women and girls
Thursday 22 May 2025 00:39 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael's almost two-year-long offensive in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 women and girls, UN Women said.
At least one woman and one girl on average have been killed every hour in attacks by Israeli forces since they launched their retaliatory attack on the Strip in October 2023, according to UN Women's analysis.
Among those killed, thousands were mothers, leaving behind devastated children, families, and communities, the agency said, adding that these figures underscore the shattering human toll of the conflict, and of lives and futures lost too soon.
"Since the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, conditions have deteriorated further in Gaza, compounded by nearly nine weeks of an ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid. The entire population in Gaza is rapidly running out of food and essential supplies with increasing risks of famine," the agency said.
"This means every woman and girl, (more than 1 million) is facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Women and girls are trapped, facing displacement, rising maternal mortality rates, and a severe lack of safety and protection mechanisms."
In pictures: Palestinians queue for food
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:59 , Athena Stavrou
Gaza hospital conditions 'beyond critical'
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:29 , Bel TrewChief international correspondent Bel Trew reports:
Ahmad, a nurse at Nasser Hospital, said conditions are “beyond critical” and the hospital which was once “major lifeline” in the south but is now barely functioning.
“Many patients die simply because we cannot treat them in time. One of the most painful things to witness today is the suffering of children… we receive dozens of injuries, often with devastating wounds - burns, amputations, and severe head trauma,” he told The Independent from inside the medical centre.
He said that medics themselves are displaced, hungry, exhausted, and mourning the loss of their own families.
“Most of the time, we have patients lying on the floor. Wounds are taking a long time to heal due to severe malnutrition and the toxic effects of the explosives on the wounds. The operating theatres are overwhelmed,” he said.
“There are severe shortages of anesthesias drugs, antibiotics, sterilised instruments, and even basic items. Many procedures are carried out with only the bare minimum. The number of wounded is overwhelming.
“The reality is devastating. The healthcare system is collapsing under the weight of this crisis, and we urgently need support, supplies, and protection for patients and medical staff.”
Analysis: Why Starmer’s government has waited until now to take action on Israel
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:03 , Athena StavrouFrustration spilled over in the Commons on Tuesday – from Labour MPs and others – over the time it has taken for Keir Starmer’s government to step up and take action against Israel over the Gaza crisis.
As the UN warned that 14,000 babies risked death from malnutrition by Thursday without urgent aid, there was a sense that, by the time foreign secretary David Lammy got to his feet, it was already too late and not enough.
As David Lammy announces the suspension of trade talks with Israel and new sanctions over the Gaza humanitarian crisis, political editor David Maddox explains why action wasn’t taken sooner:
The real reason Labour has waited until now to take action on Israel
Analysis: Netanyahu is turning Israel into a global pariah – the world has finally run out of patience
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:28 , Athena StavrouThe joint statement by the UK, France and Canada – combined with UK sanctions and suspension of trade talks – shows the international community has finally run out of patience with Israel, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Netanyahu is turning Israel into a global pariah – the world has run out of patience
Who are the Israeli ministers potentially facing UK sanctions?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:02 , Athena StavrouKeir 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.
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.
UK minister condemns Israeli military after British diplomats caught in shooting
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:29 , Athena StavrouIsrael 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.”
Pictured: Smoke billows from Gaza as Israeli bombardment continues
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:02 , Athena Stavrou
Palestinian deal with Lebanon on weapons
Wednesday 21 May 2025 20:28 , Jane DaltonThe 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.
100 aid trucks entered into Gaza, Israeli military says
Wednesday 21 May 2025 20:06 , Athena StavrouThe 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.
Pictured: Netanyahu holds first press conference in months
Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:37 , Athena Stavrou
At least 15 aid trucks enter Gaza, two merchants say
Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:15 , Athena StavrouAt 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.
‘No flour, no food, no water’: Israel continues to pound Gaza as aid still struggles to get through
Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:02 , Athena StavrouPalestinians 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
All of Gaza will ultimately come under Israeli control, Netanyahu says
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:33 , Athena StavrouIsraeli 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.”
Netanyahu speaking
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:29 , Athena StavrouBenjamin 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.
Netanyahu to speak shortly
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:15 , Athena StavrouBenjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a press conference in the next few minutes.
The Israeli prime minister will speak at his first press conference in five months, as pressure continues to mount on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to scale back its military offensive.
We will bring you the latest updates here.
Charities warn 'Gaza is hell on earth' as Israel intensifies attacks
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:12 , Athena StavrouPeople in Gaza have described the enclave as “hell on earth”, as Israel continues to bombard the strip and supplies run out.
ActionAid said staff at their partner organisation in Gaza, WEFAQ, had been forced to evacuate their offices and homes.
The charity’s emergency response manager in Gaza, Alaa, who was also forcibly displaced from his home in Deir Al-Balah, said people were fleeing with just the clothes on their backs while hungry and exhausted.
“Gaza is hell on the earth,” he said. “We live under non-stop bombing along with starvation...The situation is beyond impossible.”
Riham Jafari, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, said: “There are simply no words to describe the horror people in Gaza are living through right now, with the entire strip under intense attack and virtually no food or other essentials available.
“Every single day the news from our colleagues and partners in Gaza gets more unbearable. “
Aid still not distributed in Gaza, says UN
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:42 , Athena StavrouHumanitarian aid is still yet to reach Palestinian people in Gaza, the UN has said.
Two days after Israel lifted an 11-week blockade and began allowing limited deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing, it is yet to be distributed to starving civillians in the enclave.
"So far ... none of the supplies have been able to leave the Kerem Shalom loading area," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
They added that it was because Israeli authorities had only allowed access within Gaza "that we felt was insecure" and where looting was likely due to the prolonged deprivation.
No aid has been distributed today, UN aid official says
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:13 , ReutersNo aid has reached people in Gaza, a U.N. aid official said on Wednesday, two days after the Israeli government said it had lifted an 11-week-old blockade that has brought the Palestinian enclave to the brink of famine.
The Israeli military said five aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday and 93 on Tuesday but supplies have not made it to Gaza's soup kitchens, bakeries, markets and hospitals, according to aid officials and local bakeries that were standing by to receive supplies of flour.
"None of this aid - that is a very limited number of trucks - has reached the Gaza population," said Antoine Renard, country director of the World Food Programme (WFP), who said the trucks appeared to be stopped in Kerem Shalom, the sprawling logistics hub at the south-eastern corner of the Gaza Strip.
Many in Gaza at risk of famine
Wednesday 21 May 2025 16:51 , APExperts have warned that many of Gaza's 2 million residents face a high risk of famine. At one displacement camp in Gaza City, a charity group distributed thin and watery lentil soup.
Somaia Abu Amsha scooped small portions into bowls for her family, saying they have not had bread for over 10 days and she can't afford rice or pasta.
"We don't want anything other than that they end the war. We don't want charity kitchens. Even dogs wouldn't eat this, let alone children," she said, pointing at the soup.
Mapped: Where and how Israel has ramped up its latest attack on the Gaza Strip
Wednesday 21 May 2025 16:25 , Alex CroftIsrael continued to pound the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Wednesday as it resisted international pressure to halt its revamped attacks on the devastated enclave.
Scores of Palestinians were killed, including several women and a one-week-old baby, with at least 500 killed in the past week as Israel launches its new offensive, “Operation Gideon’s Chariots”.
Here’s a look at what Israel is doing in Gaza:
Mapped: Where and how Israel has ramped up its latest attack on the Gaza Strip
Netanyahu expected to hold press conference
Wednesday 21 May 2025 16:01 , Rachel ClunBenjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold his first press conference in five months later today, as pressure continues to mount on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to scale back its military offensive.
Netanyahu’s office said he would speak at 8.15pm in Jerusalem (6.15pm British time), according to the Times of Israel.
'No flour, no food, no water': Palestinians desperately wait for aid
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:45 , Rachel Clun, Rachel ClunPalestinians in Gaza were still waiting for the promised arrival of food despite mounting pressure on the Israeli government to allow more aid in to the territory.
International and domestic pressure has ramped up to allow essential humanitarian aid to flow to the population on the brink of a famine after an 11-week blockade.
According to Israeli military figures fewer than 100 aid trucks have entered Gaza since Monday, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government agreed to lift the blockade that has forced Gazans into a desperate struggle to survive.
Abdel-Nasser Al-Ajramy, the head of the bakery owners' society, said at least 25 bakeries that were told they would receive flour from the World Food Programme had seen nothing and there was no relief from the hunger for people waiting for food.
"There is no flour, no food, no water," said Sabah Warsh Agha, a 67-year-old woman from the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya sheltering in a cluster of tents near to the beach in Gaza City. "We used to get water from the pump, now the pump has stopped working. There is no diesel or gas."
In pictures: Palestinians queue for food
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:31Palestinians have queued for food on Wednesday amid an ongoing shortage of food and necessities following an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid.
While Israel says it has let dozens of aid trucks into Gaza, as of Tuesday evening the UN said they had been unable to distribute the essentials.
Top EU diplomat calls for Israeli investigation after warning shots fired at diplomats
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:15 , Rachel Clun, APThe European Union’s top diplomat has called for a full investigation by the Israeli Defence Force after video emerged of IDF troops firing warning shots as foreign diplomats toured Jenin this morning.
“Any threats on diplomats’ lives are unacceptable. Israel is also a signatory to the Vienna Convention — the obligation to guarantee the security of all foreign diplomats,” she said at an EU-African press conference, the Times of Israel reports.
The Italian government also demanded an explanation, saying that its vice consul was among those who came under fire.
Jenin has been the site of Israel's widespread crackdown against West Bank militants since earlier this year.
