Binyamin Netanyahu: Israel failing to avoid civilian casualties
Binyamin Netanyahu has admitted that Israel was “not successful” in avoiding unnecessary civilian casualties in its assault to dislodge Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
He spoke as the casualty count from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry — whose previous figures have been broadly accepted by Israel and international organisations — rose past 12,000, including more than 5,000 children, a toll unprecedented in previous conflicts there.
The Israeli prime minister’s admission came as aid agencies warned of a deterioration in conditions in Gaza. This was hastened when reserve power ran out after Israel cut off food, water and power to the territory in response to the massacres on October 7. Gaza was plunged into a communications blackout on Thursday when lack of power shut off mobile phone
