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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said Israel will make a "tactical shift" in its Gaza operations, comparing potential actions to the Allied bombing of Tokyo and Berlin during World War II, as hunger deaths in the besieged enclave reach 134, including 88 children.
The Republican senator told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that Israel would "take the place by force" after determining negotiations with Hamas were not viable.
Graham characterized Hamas as "religious Nazis" and said U.S. President Donald Trump had concluded there was no way to negotiate an end to the war with the group.
"I think Israel will make a tactical shift in Gaza. Israel will make a full military effort to take control of Gaza," Graham said, adding, "They will act in Gaza like we did in Tokyo and Berlin. They will take the region by force and then start over, offering a better future for Palestinians, hopefully allowing Arabs to take over the West Bank and Gaza."
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, echoed similar sentiments, stating that Hamas is "reluctant" to accept a cease-fire. He confirmed that the U.S. has recalled its Doha negotiation team "for consultation."
In a separate Fox News interview on Saturday, Witkoff said a deal with Hamas "is now coming together," but emphasized Israel's and Trump's readiness for "alternative options."
President Trump, in a recent statement, said: "Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die... You’re going to have to finish the job. You’re gonna have to get rid of ’em."
Trump said Hamas will be "hunted down" and accused them of avoiding final hostage deals.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett posted on X (formerly Twitter) from Washington, criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership: "Israel is collapsing, and this destructive government must be changed as soon as possible," Bennett wrote.
"The war drags on as if time were infinite. Nearly two years since Oct. 7, and Hamas can still dictate conditions—how is this possible?" he added.
Bennett condemned Israeli ministers for reckless comments, such as calls to "nuke Gaza," saying they severely damage Tel Aviv's position.
Tom Fletcher, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned that “one in every three people in Gaza has gone days without food.” He called for urgent aid and a lasting cease-fire.
"Aid must not be blocked, delayed, or distributed under attack," Fletcher said, emphasizing that food queues have been targeted and children are "melting away before our eyes."
British surgeon Victoria Rose, recently returned from Gaza, said, "While we were at Nasser Hospital, 60 children died of malnutrition in 23 days. That number is rising."
Rose, who worked with Islamic Help (a U.K.-based charity organization) and IDEALs, said Gazans risk being shot at distribution centers and that aid trucks are not reaching most people.
She described bomb injuries and malnutrition compounding each other: "Without food and medicine, wounds from bombings can’t heal. Antibiotics are scarce. Survivability is nearly impossible."
Rose called on global leaders to act: "Humanitarian aid must enter Gaza through multiple large-scale points—not just food, but sanitation, clean water, vaccination, and medical supplies."
Internal documents obtained by Drop Site News show Hamas submitted amendments to a 13-point cease-fire framework on Wednesday after consulting with Palestinian political leaders and regional mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
Key disagreements centered on:
Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya accused the U.S. and Israel of "blackmail" and using "negotiations as a cover and tool for starvation."
"There is no point in continuing negotiations under the siege, genocide, and starvation of our children, women, and people in the Gaza Strip," al-Hayya said Sunday.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023, have killed at least 59,733 Palestinians and wounded 144,477.
The enclave faces widespread destruction, with 88% of Gaza demolished and approximately 2 million of its 2.3 million residents displaced.
International medical workers report severe food shortages even for aid staff. Rose described having to pack a month's worth of food in a 23-kilogram (50.7-pound) suitcase, while local medical colleagues received no food provisions.
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