27-10-2023 (GAZA) In a significant escalation of the 20-day-long conflict with Hamas, Israeli forces carried out a major ground attack in Gaza overnight on October 26. This move came as anger continued to mount across the Arab world due to Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the beleaguered Palestinian territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously indicated that Israeli troops were in preparations for a full-scale ground invasion. In response, the United States and several other countries urged Israel to delay such an invasion, concerned that it could trigger hostilities on multiple fronts in the Middle East.
The United Nations agency responsible for providing aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza warned that it might soon have to suspend its operations if no fuel reaches the Hamas-controlled territory. The urgent need for shelter, water, food, and medical services has put immense pressure on the region.
The conflict began following an October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli communities, with Israel asserting that Hamas was responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, including children, and the capture of over 200 hostages, some of whom were infants and older adults.
In contrast, Gaza’s health ministry reported that, as of Thursday, 7,028 Palestinians had been killed in retaliatory airstrikes, including 2,913 children. The U.S. State Department acknowledged a significant number of casualties but stated it lacked independent confirmation of the figures and did not trust those released by Hamas. The Israeli military also expressed skepticism about Hamas’s numbers but did not provide its own assessment. Gaza’s health ministry countered statements questioning the figures by publishing a document containing the names and ID numbers of identified victims.
On the night of the attack, Israeli military forces executed their most extensive incursion into northern Gaza during the current conflict. Armored vehicles crossed the fortified border and demolished buildings, as evidenced by military videos. According to the Israeli army, tanks and infantry targeted numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure, and anti-tank missile launch sites.
While there was no sign of a reduction in hostilities in Gaza, the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement condemning what they described as the targeting of civilians and violations of international law. They emphasized that Israel’s right to self-defense should not be a justification for breaking the law and disregarding the rights of Palestinians. The Arab ministers decried the forced displacement and collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza and criticized Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. They also called for increased efforts to implement a two-state solution to the long-standing conflict, a fundamental concept in stalled peace negotiations.
European governments expressed support for Israel, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stating that EU leaders, meeting in Brussels, would send a clear signal of backing for Israel and emphasizing their expectation that the Israeli army would adhere to international law. However, divisions within the EU emerged, as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned Israel against causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While acknowledging Israel’s right to take action to prevent future attacks, he stressed that it should not be an excuse to block humanitarian aid or starve the population.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the United States was exploring options to reduce the flow of financing to Hamas.
Concerns were also raised about the fate of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 assault and brought to Gaza. A spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, indicated that about 50 captives had been killed in Gaza due to Israeli strikes, providing no further details. Israel stated that 224 hostages were being held, complicating any potential ground invasion, including some with foreign passports. Hamas had released four captives since the initial incident. A Qatari negotiator expressed hope that a pause in fighting could facilitate the release of more hostages in the coming days, despite the challenging negotiation environment.
In northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, an Israeli airstrike struck a house, resulting in the tragic deaths of a mother, her three daughters, and a baby boy. The director of Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis reported that 77 people killed in airstrikes had been brought to the hospital, most of whom were women and children.
The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) urgently required fuel to sustain life-saving humanitarian operations in Gaza. Israel had refused to allow fuel shipments, citing concerns about potential seizure by Hamas. The Israeli military contended that Hamas had substantial fuel reserves for its own operations and tunnel ventilation, which could be utilized by hospitals. Over 613,000 people displaced by the conflict sought refuge in 150 UNRWA facilities across the devastated territory. Humanitarian supplies were in critically short supply, and efforts at the United Nations to secure a temporary cessation of hostilities for the delivery of aid proved unsuccessful.
At the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that if Israel’s offensive against Hamas persisted, the United States would not be exempt from the consequences.
