It’s 3am in Gaza City and Tel Aviv and we’re shutting this live blog now. You can read our latest full report with the key developments here: Fears for Palestinians and hostages as Netanyahu plans full Gaza occupation. Thanks for reading.
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In Australia, a prominent Jewish community leader has said Israel has no choice but to take control of Gaza if it wants to achieve its goal of defeating Hamas and freeing the militant group’s hostages.
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, also said it appeared inevitable Australia’s government would recognise a Palestinian state in the near future, Australian Associated Press is reporting.
Ryvchin said Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments that Israel intends to take over the entire Gaza Strip were welcome because it would mean the defeat of Hamas.
“I think that the worst thing that could happen is any form of civilian return to Gaza,” Ryvchin told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
When you have a situation where Hamas refuses to lay down its arms, refuses to release the hostages, refuses the ceasefire that’s been on the table since the end of May, it leaves no choice but to complete the job militarily.
And that’s clearly what the prime minister is planning to do.
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