Palestinian FM warns international community of new Israeli war on Gaza

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned of the devastating consequences of a potential new Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, days after Israel launched air strikes against the besieged Palestinian enclave following rocket fire.

"Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu believes military aggression on the Gaza Strip will save him, that the [Israeli opposition] will stand by him in this military confrontation, which will weaken or even end the opposition against him," a ministry statement said.

Netanyahu is facing strong internal pressure in Israel over his plans for a possible judicial overhaul.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned the international community over what Netanyahu might decide to do after the Jewish holiday of Passover ends later this week, saying that countries should take pre-emptive stances "to avoid crimes from happening against innocent Palestinian lives, particularly in Gaza."

It warned that Israel may resort to assassinating prominent Palestinian figures.

The ministry added that the Palestinians will not remain silent this time if nations decide to stand by Israel under the excuse that it is acting in self-defence, "despite [Israel] being a state of aggression, occupation, crime and siege."

"The Israeli government seems intent on weakening the PA to the point of collapse."

Why Palestinians brace for a dystopian nightmare in 2023 ⬇ https://t.co/bqTmmf5pGz

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Israel has stepped up its attacks on Palestinians amid the holy month of Ramadan, with a brutal assault on worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

This has prompted global condemnation.

Following the attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinians launched rockets form Gaza and southern Lebanon against Israel, with Israel then launching strikes against both areas on Friday.

More rockets were fired from Syria into the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday evening.

Netanyahu warned that his government would "strike our enemies."

Israeli bombarded Gaza for three consecutive days in August last year, and for 11 days in May in 2021, killing hundreds of Palestinians.