Amidst another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip, Israel has announced that it has regained control of the Gaza border and is in the process of planting mines at locations where Hamas fighters had toppled the barrier during their weekend offensive. This development comes as Israel has escalated its military response to the most audacious attack by Hamas in decades.
As the conflict enters its third day, Israel’s latest series of airstrikes follows the mobilization of an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and the imposition of a total blockade on Gaza. This has raised concerns that Israel may be preparing for a ground assault in response to Hamas’s attacks.
The violence has had a devastating toll, with more than 1,500 lives lost, leading to international expressions of support for Israel, street protests in solidarity with Palestinians, and appeals for an end to the fighting and the protection of civilians.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the blockaded enclave since the commencement of Saturday’s attacks by Hamas. The airstrikes have targeted a wide range of sites, including apartment blocks, a mosque, hospitals, and infrastructure like roads and houses. Additionally, Israel has bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could disrupt landline telephone, internet, and mobile phone services.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli TV channels reported a death toll of 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured, and dozens taken captive. Among the Israeli casualties were 260 individuals, mostly young people, who were targeted at a desert music festival where some of the hostages were abducted.
Israel’s Chief Military Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, reported no new infiltrations from Gaza since Monday, dispelling rumors of fighters using cross-border tunnels. Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued a threat to kill Israelis held captive after the surprise attack on Saturday morning. He stated that Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning and would broadcast the executions. As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Israeli military to this threat.
As the conflict unfolds, Palestinians have reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers instructing them to leave specific areas in northern and eastern Gaza, with warnings of military operations in those regions. This has prompted dozens of residents to flee their homes, effectively becoming refugees within their own territory.
In Israel’s southern region, where the Hamas attack occurred, Israeli forces have regained control of communities that were overrun, but isolated clashes continue as some gunmen remain active. The activation of 300,000 reservists in just two days has fueled speculation about a potential ground assault on Gaza, a territory Israel evacuated nearly two decades ago.
As the crisis escalates, the United States, which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military assistance annually, has announced plans to send additional supplies of air defenses, munitions, and other security assistance to Israel. The U.S. is also cautioning Iran against getting involved in the crisis, emphasizing the need to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
The international response has been significant, with various governments reporting the deaths of their citizens in the Hamas attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has noted that 137,000 people are taking shelter with UNRWA, the UN agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. Additionally, a joint statement by the British, French, German, Italian, and U.S. governments recognizes the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and calls for justice and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians. They express their commitment to unity and coordination to ensure Israel’s ability to defend itself.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan have jointly called for an immediate end to violence and the protection of civilians by both Hamas and Israel. Furthermore, Qatar has initiated urgent negotiations for the release of Israeli women and children seized by Hamas in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.
The possibility of the conflict spreading has caused alarm in the region and around the world. Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in response to the killing of at least three of its members in Israeli shelling of Lebanon. Israel, in turn, reported the death of one of its deputy commanders in a cross-border raid from Lebanon.
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