South Africa wants to withdraw diplomats from Israel
1:45 p.m.: The South African government has announced the withdrawal of its diplomats from Israel in view of the situation in the Gaza Strip. The government is “extremely concerned about the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories,” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said on Monday. Israel’s response to the attack by the Palestinian organization Hamas amounted to “collective punishment,” she added. It is therefore “important to signal” South Africa’s concern.
The withdrawal of diplomats was “standard practice,” argued Pandor. The envoys were supposed to provide the South African government with a “full report” on the situation. The government in Pretoria will then decide whether to help or whether a “relationship can be maintained,” said the Foreign Minister, calling for “a cessation of hostilities.”
Israel announces attacks on Hamas terrorists in tunnel system
1:38 p.m.: Israel says it is launching the next stage of the offensive to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas. The armed forces are ready to attack Hamas terrorists in their underground tunnels and bunkers in the northern Gaza Strip, military spokesman Richard Hecht announced. “Now we will begin to approach them.” This means that they would be attacked above ground and underground.
Berlin describes nuclear threat to Gaza Strip as “unacceptable”
12:34 p.m.: The German government has clearly condemned an Israeli minister’s threat to consider using atomic bombs in the Gaza war. “Such statements are unacceptable,” emphasized a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office in Berlin on Monday.
Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Elijahu, when asked whether a nuclear bomb should be dropped on the Gaza Strip, replied: “That is one of the options.” However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from this statement and, according to media reports, suspended the minister from cabinet meetings until further notice. You can read more about Elijah’s threat here.
EU increases aid for Gaza by 25 million euros
12:21 p.m.: The European Union will increase aid for the people of the Gaza Strip by 25 million euros to 100 million euros. This was announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.
Israel temporarily allows passage to southern Gaza
11:41 a.m.: Israel’s army has once again given civilians in the northern Gaza Strip a window of opportunity to flee to the south of the coastal area. The army is allowing passage on a connecting road to the south between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. CET), a spokesman wrote in Arabic on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning. He published a map showing the street. The spokesman called on people to move south as quickly as possible for their own safety.
