Vincent McAviney: Europe Correspondent on the Israeli military beginning first stages of ground offensive in Gaza

Israel's military has begun the first stages of a planned ground offensive in Gaza City, causing Palestinians to flee.

It's pressing ahead with its plan to occupy the war-torn city despite international criticism.

New Zealand's one of 27 countries demanding Israel give foreign media access to Gaza to cover the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”.

Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge Israeli hostage families are concerned about the 60-thousand reserve force soldiers to set foot in Gaza.

He says they think hostages will be executed or caught up in the firing, while soldiers try to access the tunnel network where it's believed the rest of Hamas remain.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gaza City, though the Palestinians are moving out as the
id IF prepares to move in. Vincent Mechavin exiur UK
Europe correspondent, Vincent what about the hostages? This is the
big worry from those in Israel, right, Yeah, I've.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Been speaking to hostage families today and they're extremely concerned
because Gaza City has been though it's had strikes from
the air, hasn't had sort of a ground incursion during
this whole war. So they're worried that with the IDF
now gearing up to go in in large numbers. They've
caught up sixty thousand reserve that this will mean that
the hostages are executed or they'll be caught up in

(00:34):
the firing as those forces try to get down into
the tunnel network where it's believed the last of Hamas
really remains Russia.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
They're going at it healthily, that this is the biggest
campaign in several weeks. To spite all the talk over
the last three while.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, that's right. To five hundred and seventy four drones
launched overnight forty missiles on Ukraine. At least one person
killed and several dozen have been injured. It goes to
show that really you can't take Vladimir Putin at his word.
Only a week ago he was heading to Alaska for
that meeting with Trump. Then we have another meeting at
the White House with Europeans Andince Alansk on Monday. Now

(01:10):
it seems that this is all a stall for time,
because you've got Lavrov, who is their foreign secretary, coming
out and saying any support in future that is given
to Ukraine needs to have a sign off from Russia.
They are trying, it seems to agitate things, saying the
idea of having a meeting, a trilateral meeting between Zelenski,
Putin and Trump is not something that needs to come
about imminently. So just concern that really what Putin is

(01:33):
trying to do is grind down Ukraine even further.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
Appreciate your time, Vincent. Thank you. Vincent Mekavini, a UK
europe correspondent.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
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