27 more Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza; ex-Israeli general flags war crimes

With Gaza death toll nearing 53,000, former Israeli military chief warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ and slams Netanyahu government’s moral collapse

GAZA, PALESTINE  (MNTV) –  At least 27 Palestinians were killed and 85 injured in a fresh wave of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday, as Israel’s war on the besieged enclave stretches into its eighth month.

Among the dead were both parents and their infant child from the Hamdan family, whose home was struck by an Israeli air raid in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

A separate Israeli bombing in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood killed at least one more civilian. Drone strikes in Khan Younis and Gaza City claimed the lives of four more Palestinians, including a 60-year-old man and his 19-year-old son.

The Health Ministry in Gaza says the Palestinian death toll has now climbed to 52,787, with over 119,000 injured since the war began on October 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, fighting continues on the ground.

The Israeli army confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed in battles with Hamas fighters in southern Gaza, particularly in Rafah.

Four other Israeli soldiers were injured, raising Israel’s military death toll since October to 856.

In a rare and stinging rebuke, former Israeli army chief and ex-defense minister Moshe Yaalon accused Israel’s current military leadership of “sending troops to commit war crimes” in Gaza.

Speaking to the Israeli outlet Ynet, Yaalon said the government had “abandoned Israeli captives” and was carrying out a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” in the territory.

“We have lost touch with Jewish morality,” he warned, describing the military’s current conduct as dangerous and deeply unethical.

Yaalon served as Israel’s Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005 and was defense minister under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2013 to 2016. His remarks come amid growing dissent within Israeli society over the war’s conduct and its long-term consequences.

Over 5,000 Israelis gathered on Friday for the “People’s Peace Summit”, calling for an end to the Gaza war and the pursuit of a long-term political resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Organized by the “It’s Time” coalition of over 60 rights groups and civil society organizations, the summit brought together reservist soldiers opposing the war, families of Israeli captives, and prominent peace activists.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed the crowd, calling for immediate peace negotiations. Video messages were played from French President Emmanuel Macron and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Macron assured attendees that France would “stand with the builders of peace.”

Aid without Israel

In a parallel development, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced plans for a new food aid operation to Gaza, which he said would proceed without any involvement from Israel’s military.

Speaking in Jerusalem, Huckabee stated that the aid mechanism was designed by “several partners” who have pledged funding but preferred to remain unnamed for now.

“President Trump wants food distributed in Gaza safely and efficiently,” Huckabee said, without giving a detailed timeline for the operation.

The announcement follows reports that the U.S. is pushing for a UN-backed initiative to bypass Israeli coordination, amid growing concern that Israel has weaponised aid access during its campaign.

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. International aid organisations have warned that displaced families are running out of food, water, and medicine.

The mounting death toll, reports of starvation, and graphic images of children rummaging through trash for food have drawn international condemnation.

Human rights groups have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, while diplomatic pressure is mounting for a ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access.