As Israel prepares ‘next stage’ assault on Gaza, Iran warns ‘no one can guarantee’ control of situation
- As the UN says over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced after Israel’s evacuation order, Tehran says ‘control of situation’ not guaranteed
- On Sunday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu convened an expanded emergency cabinet for the first time, gearing up to ‘demolish Hamas’
Iran warned on Sunday that “no one can guarantee” control of the situation if Israel invades Gaza, ahead of an expected ground offensive by Israeli forces and as the UN said more than one million people – almost half the population – had been displaced in the blockaded enclave in the last week.
“If the attacks of the Zionist regime (Israel) against the defenceless citizens and people of Gaza continue, no one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts,” Iran’s foreign ministry quoted Foreign Minster Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as saying during his meeting with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an expanded emergency cabinet for the first time, saying the national unity on display sent a message at home and abroad as the country gears up to “demolish Hamas” in Gaza.
The Sunday meeting in Tel Aviv began with ministers standing for a moment’s silence in memory of the 1,300 Israelis killed in Hamas’ shock October 7 onslaught, a video released by Netanyahu’s office showed.
Netanyahu said all ministers were “working around the clock, with a united front”.
“Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas,” he added, saying the show of unity “sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world”.
Chief Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Sunday: “Residents of Gaza City, I call upon you again: Hamas is trying to prevent your evacuation. We will enable it southward. Leave Gaza City and all the surrounding areas for the sake of your personal security.”
On Saturday, Netanyahu visited Israeli soldiers outside the Gaza Strip, with an accompanying video showing him telling them: “You ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.”