US cargo planes supplied heavy weapons to Israel amid Gaza offensive
Dozens of heavy military cargo flights have arrived in Israel since the end of January, with the US operating cargo flights regularly since the resumption of the war last month, flight data analysed by Al Jazeera’s Sanad Agency shows.
Data from Flight Radar shows movement of 47 military planes, including 30 cargo aircraft, during the period from January 25, following the Gaza ceasefire implementation, until April 18, about a month after Israel renewed the offensive.
Some of the flights arrived from seven European countries. Among these flights, 16 were carried out after the resumption of the war on March 18, unilaterally breaking the January ceasefire.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority has described the recent movement as an “unprecedented airlift” for military supplies.
‘Heading for disaster’: Israeli politicians criticise Netanyahu
Opposition leader Yair Lapid blasted the Israeli prime minister in a speech on Sunday in which he said that Israel is “heading toward a disaster” and warned of heated political rhetoric.
“The levels of incitement are unprecedented. The red line has been crossed,” Lapid said. “If we don’t stop, we will have a politically-motivated murder – perhaps more than one – and Jews will kill Jews.”
Netanyahu’s Likud Party countered that Lapid was himself taking part in “dangerous incitement against the prime minister” with his criticism.
Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, also criticised Netanyahu in a social media post that accused him of being soft on the issue of Israeli security, labelling him “the Prime Minister of October 7”.
“Hamas must be eliminated,” he said. “But the Prime Minister of October 7 is unable to reach this goal.”
Trump’s plan for Gaza not endgame for Netanyahu
In his video address on Saturday evening, Netanyahu once again hailed Trump’s “important vision” for Gaza, saying it would “allow our country to live in security”.
Israeli analyst Ori Goldberg said that despite the repeated references to Trump’s plan, which would involve the US takeover of Gaza, Netanyahu is not aiming to remove Palestinians and have Israelis resettle in the Strip.
“Cleansing Gaza and resettling there is not feasible either logistically or politically, but Netanyahu doesn’t mind stringing [the far right] along,” he told Al Jazeera. “Netanyahu is trying to keep his government in place until the next election in spring 2026, so he tries to play both ends against the middle.”
In his latest video address, Netanyahu once again branded himself as the decision-maker who is taking matters into his own hands to Israel’s benefit, a vision that is largely shared by Israeli society.
“No one will come out and say what we’re doing in Gaza is not safeguarding Israel,” Goldberg said. “Most Israelis want the hostages to be returned, but they support the genocide. They would never admit to it, but they would say there is no other solution.”
