“If no agreement is reached by the 15th, large-scale operations will commence.”
Iran criticizes “Israel intervening in U.S. internal matters.”
Israel has officially announced plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip and launched retaliatory airstrikes against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran also strongly criticized Israel, accusing it of drawing the U.S. into the conflict, signaling renewed tensions in the Middle East.
Netanyahu to “mobilize reserves for occupation.”
According to Reuters on the 5th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “One thing is clear: the Israeli army will not withdraw after entering the Gaza Strip,” and announced plans to mobilize reserves to occupy and hold the area. He added that the residents of Gaza would be relocated for their protection.
Israel’s security cabinet unanimously approved an operation plan called “Gideon’s Chariots,” aimed at freeing all hostages and subduing the Palestinian militant faction Hamas, which includes plans for Israel to occupy and maintain control over Gaza.
“Operation will start if no agreement is reached before Trump’s Middle East visit.”
Israel stated that if new hostage negotiations and ceasefire agreements are not reached by the 15th, before President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, the operation will commence. Scheduled from the 13th to 16th, Trump’s visit includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli security official, that a large-scale operation will begin if an agreement is not reached by then.
The international community’s response is cold. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a significant number of civilians would inevitably die, while a UK Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized ongoing conflicts as benefiting no one. Hamas senior official Bassem Naim also dismissed the relevance of ceasefire negotiations with Israel, urging global pressure on the Israeli government to stop the war.
Retaliation against the Houthis… Iran says “nothing to gain from U.S. proxy war.”
Meanwhile, Israel has conducted retaliatory airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels. According to Al-Masirah TV operated by the Houthis, an Israeli missile strike hit the port of Hodeida in western Yemen, killing one person and injuring at least 30 others. Earlier, a Houthi missile attack on Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport injured at least six people, marking the first time Israel failed to intercept a Houthi missile.
Iran issued a warning to Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X, declaring that Netanyahu is dragging the U.S. into the Middle Eastern disaster, stating, “Americans will gain nothing from supporting the massacre in Gaza and the proxy war in Yemen.”