Netanyahu to hold press conference tonight, his first in 5 months

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a press conference this evening at 8:15 p.m. at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, his office announces.

This will mark the premier’s first press conference since December.

The press conference comes after Israel initiated an expanded ground offensive in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, and as Jerusalem faces widespread international condemnation over its military actions in the Strip and is accused of failing to address what is seen as a growing hunger crisis among the enclaves’ civilian population. It also comes amid criticism from right-wing circles over the decision to resume the entry of limited aid to the Strip before a mechanism is put in place to ensure the supplies don’t reach Hamas.

The prime minister called back the top members of the Israeli negotiation team from Doha to Jerusalem earlier this week, after talks on a hostage release-ceasefire with Hamas reached a standstill.