Middle East: Israeli military steps up attacks in Gaza City

Hamasreplied to the latest offer for a hostage deal in Gaza, saying they received "some ideas" to reach a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Israel.

The Palestinian militant group said it was discussing ways to develop those ideas. "Hamas is willing to return to the negotiation table immediately," the organization's statement said.

The group added that it aspires to reach a deal that would secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli hostages held by the group and its affiliates and an end to the war in the enclave.

The conflict began with the group's October 7, 2023 terrorist attack that claimed the lives of some 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians. More than 64,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

According to the group, the principles of the negotiations are the withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip, an end to the war, and the establishment of an independent committee to take over the embattled enclave's day-to-day management.

US President Donald Trump has given Palestinian militant group Hamasa "last warning" to accept the terms of a deal suggested by Washington to release the Israeli hostages held by the group and end the war in Gaza.

"The Israelis have accepted my terms," Trump posted on his Truth Social account, while calling for the group — which is designated a terrorist organization in the United States — to follow suit.

"I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!"

Trump made a similar "last warning" in March, while also sending out a public message to the militant group after his election to release the Israeli hostages by the time he took office on January 20. 

According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, the current offer is based on principles negotiated with Hamas through American-born Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin, whose direct contact with Hamas officials led to the release deal of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for some 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in 2011.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing the families of hostages, urged the Israeli government to support the deal and "provide President Trump with full backing" until the return of the Israeli hostages is secured.

The Israeli army attacked a high-storey building in Gaza City, claiming it was used by Palestinian group Hamas and its militants.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas militants used the building to "monitor the location" of Israeli soldiers stationed in the area.

The building is used to shelter displaced families, according to agency reports.
 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson posted an "urgent and repeated" warning to residents of a building in Gaza City on social media.

Avichay Adraee posted on X that the warning was specifically for residents in the Al-Ruya building and adjacent tents.

"The Defense Army will attack the building soon due to the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or near it," Adraee said.

"For your safety, you are required to evacuate the building immediately southward toward the humanitarian zone in Mawasi Khan Younis," the warning stated.

Sunday's warning comes as Israel continues its military offensive to seize Gaza City.

A total of 890 people have been arrested by police in central London who were demonstrating against the banning the Palestine Action organization.

The British government regards Palestine Action as a terrorist group.

Police said that 857 arrests made under the Terrorism Act for supporting a proscribed terrorist organization.

Thirty-three were detained for other offenses, including 17 for assaulting police officers.

"In carrying out their duties today, our officers have been punched, kicked, spat on and had objects thrown at them by protesters," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who went on to say that abuse directed at police was "intolerable."

Defend Our Juries, the campaign group that organized the protest, said 1,500 people took part in the demonstration outside Parliament and that those demonstrating had been sitting down and holding signs.

Police then set about making arrests with some scuffles and exchanges taking place.

Why did the British government ban Palestine Action?

The British government moved to ban Palestine Action following a break-in and vandalism at a Royal Air Force base.

Pro-Palestinian activists damaged and sprayed red paint over two planes used for refueling and transport.

The group wanted to protest against the government's ongoing military support for Israel and its offensive in Gaza.

Israel's Airports Authority said the arrivals hall at Ramon Airport, near the Red Sea city of Eilat, has been struck by a drone, launched from Yemen.

The authority said that airspace over the airport was closed for now as it worked towards restoring normal operations.

Israel's military said that the air force had intercepted three drones launched from Yemen, two of which it said were intercepted before entering Israeli territory.

It then went on to say that an additional drone was launched from Yemen, which fell in the region of Ramon Airport.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the incident was under investigation.

The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missiles and drones towards Israel, in what the group says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Over a week ago, the Houthis confirmed their prime minister and several ministers had been killed in an Israeli strike in Sanaa.

Israel's foreign minister said it would be a "mistake" for countries to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also warned it could lead to unspecified response, with reports that Israel is planning to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Several countries, including France and Britain, have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the 80th UN General Assembly.

"States like France and the UK that pushed the so-called recognition had made a tremendous mistake," Saar said during a joint press conference with his visiting Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen. "It will destabilize the region. It will push Israel also to have unilateral decisions."

Israel and Denmark are planning to establish a joint team to explore ways to evacuate injured patients from the Gaza Strip.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar made the announcement on Sunday at a joint press conference.

However, Rasmussen also criticized Israel's previous stance on the issue, saying, "I hope that we can work something out that is doable and actually has some real impact.

"It would, of course, have been much easier if you would allow transport of the patients from Gaza to East Jerusalem, but I can't force you to do that, even though it could save many lives." 

While Denmark expressed a wish to treat Gaza patients in the West Bank, Saar said there were security concerns surrounding the issue.

Evacuation to other countries, including Arab states, were, however, possible.

Denmark 'wants Israel to change course'

Rasmussen used the press conference to express Denmark's strong relations with Israel and offer an understanding for their right to defend themselves following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

At the same time, the Danish foreign minister described himself as "a friend that wants [Israel] to change course," while expressing his concerns over the continuing "humanitarian disaster in Gaza."

The Israeli military has set up a humanitarian area to the south of the Gaza Strip, as it expands a ground operation to take over Gaza City.

There have also been near-daily protests in Israel, with people demanding a negotiated end to the war in Gaza and the return of hostages.

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This blog is on pause now, but will resume on Sunday with updates on the war in Gaza and the wider Middle East region.

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Tens of thousands of people took part in mass rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to demand the release of the hostages, after over 700 days of Hamas captivity in Gaza.

This week's Saturday protest shifted its focus to Jerusalem, with demonstrators gathering near the residences and workplaces of key decision-makers in an effort to pressure them into agreeing to a ceasefire and hostage deal. Thousands of people marched towards the centre of West Jerusalem, chanting "dai" in Hebrew, which means "enough."

The protests took place while the Israeli military was intensifying its assault on Gaza City and forcibly displacing its residents towards the southern part of the territory. The military claims this was to put pressure on Hamas and conquer and occupy the Palestinian city.

Yehuda Raviv was present with a group of army veterans from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He criticized Israel’s military invasion of Gaza City.

"It is horrifying what Israel is doing, what the State of Israel is doing, that's why I am here, we got to try to stop it. They have no strategy, no goal what should come after, and there are all the casualties, hundreds of soldiers that got killed, and every other day another soldier is killed, and I am not even talking about the hostages,” Yehuda Raviv told DW.

He added, "We should pull out of Gaza within an hour or two and we should come with a solution to the milions of people that are living there and that are living in the West Bank."

Concern for the hostages is growing

There was also growing concern for the lives of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, 26 have been confirmed dead by the military and 20 are believed to be alive.

Bar Evron, a student from the southern town of Be'er Sheva, came to Jerusalem to show her support for the families of hostages. "We really need to sign a deal, we need to stop the war. I believe that peace would make our hostages come back, we need to stop this, we want to stop this," Bar Evron told DW.

Another protester questioned the government's plan to conquer and occupy Gaza City. "For me the most important thing is to release the hostages, I also don't see the point to go into Gaza [City], I don't know how this helps, they've been there before, they’ve been back and forth, they should release the hostages, they should make a deal to release all the hostages," Dan Kaplan, a protester from Tel Aviv, told DW.

"If there is any terrorist that we need to deal with, we'll do it, but not by going into Gaza and in the meantime, the hostages will be killed," Kaplan told DW.

However, he also acknowledged that the Israeli far-right and religious government, has not taken the protesters into account.

"I think the government is very right-wing. It is mainly interested in staying in power," Kaplan said. "I go to a protest every Saturday, I don’t think it will help, but this is the minimum we can do."

UK Police on Saturday arrested some of the hundreds of protesters who gathered outside parliament in London, defying a ban on the group Palestine Action, which has been proscribed as a terrorist organization by the British government.

Defend Our Juries, the group that organized the protest, said 1,500 participated in the demonstration, holding placards that read: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."

Within minutes, police began arresting protesters, as bystanders chanted "Shame on you" and "Met Police, pick a side, justice or genocide."

There were scuffles and angry exchanges as officers dragged away individuals.

"Expressing support for a proscribed organization is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act," the Metropolitan Police force said on social media, posting video footage of the protest. "Where our officers see offences, we will make arrests."

The British government deemed Palestine Action a terrorist organization in July after members of the network vandalized Royal Air Force aircraft.

Pushing ahead with its offensive in Gaza City, the Israeli military is homing in on structures it says are being used by Hamas militants.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike demolished a 14-story building, one of the few remaining high-rises in the densely populated area.

In Israel, families of hostages marked 700 days since their loved ones were taken captive, once again expressing their criticism of the military operation.

Video footage showing two Israeli hostages being driven around Gaza City has heightened concerns for the safety of those held captive by Hamas.

Frustration with Germany is growing in Europe as a "growing majority" of EU member states want to sanction Israel over its conduct in Gaza.

However,  Europe's top diplomats have been unable to reach any kind of consensus. And some privately expressed frustration with EU nations blocking sanctions on Israel.

Given Germany's historical responsibility to the state of Israel because of the Holocaust, what would it take for the German government to change course? Read more here.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival wraps up on Saturday evening with the anticipated announcement of the awards still to come.

The festival's jury, led by director Alexander Payne, is set to announce the top awards.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab" by French-Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania is in contention for a coveted Golden Lion award.

The film tells the story of the last moments in the life of a Palestinian girl named Hind Rajab in the Gaza Strip, who died at the age of 5.

Rajab was killed by Israeli forces while fleeing Gaza City last year.

The film recontructs Rajab's last moments with the narrative anchored in real emergency call recordings, providing an intimate and harrowing portrayal of the events

When it premiered on Wednesday, it received 23 minutes of applause.