Israel's offensive aims to make Gaza uninhabitable, says HRW
Gaza: Israel continues its military assault on Gaza while implementing measures to establish direct control over the region, raising concerns over forced displacement and long-term occupation. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated that Israel’s actions are part of a deliberate plan to make Gaza uninhabitable.
Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths. HRW has linked the campaign to U.S. President Donald Trump's resettlement plan, which reportedly includes strategies to seize Gaza and remove its Palestinian population.
Meanwhile, Israel has placed humanitarian aid distribution under the oversight of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an agency under the Israeli Defence Ministry. Aid will now be channelled through Israeli-controlled logistics hubs, with assistance restricted to those deemed “non-disruptive.” The closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is expected to significantly impact the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Israel has also mandated that all NGOs in Gaza register with its authorities, bringing their operations under Israeli control.
Additionally, a new governance division under the Israeli Defence Ministry will regulate Palestinian departures from Gaza, overseeing land, sea, and air travel. Israeli officials claim these measures comply with international law and align with U.S. policies on Gaza.
Simultaneously, Israel has approved the construction of 13 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank under the directive of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. HRW has condemned the move, calling it an illegal expansion aimed at annexing Palestinian land.
Reports from the Israeli publication Mekomit suggest that as early as October 2023, Israel’s intelligence ministry had drafted plans to depopulate Gaza and assume full control over the enclave. Initial proposals reportedly included relocating Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai region. The developments indicate a broader strategy to integrate Gaza into Israel while limiting Palestinian self-governance.
In response, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have proposed a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza. However, with continued military operations and growing restrictions on aid, the region faces an escalating humanitarian crisis.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
