30-10-2023 (GAZA) The city of Gaza reverberated with fierce air and artillery strikes on Monday as Israeli troops, supported by tanks, launched a ground assault into the Palestinian enclave. Israel’s military reported over 600 militant targets struck in recent days as their ground operations in the Gaza Strip expanded.
Entering its fourth week, the escalation in violence has left Palestinian civilians in dire need of essential supplies such as fuel, food, and clean water.
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that dozens of terrorists hiding in buildings and tunnels were neutralized during clashes with the troops. The IDF urged civilians to relocate from the northern part of the enclave to the south, as they aimed to root out Hamas militants believed to be using a network of tunnels beneath Gaza City.
Residents reported heavy exchanges of fire as Israeli forces carried out numerous airstrikes on the eastern side of the city, seemingly to cut off access. Tanks were also observed on the Mediterranean coast, with the north-south coast road being targeted multiple times.
Communication lines, including internet and phone connections, remained severed in the north, exacerbating the difficulty of communication within the region. Many Palestinians in Gaza City chose to stay, fearing the loss of their homes and alarmed by news of Israeli airstrikes in the south.
Meanwhile, medical officials at Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals reported airstrikes near their facilities. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted the plight of 117,000 civilians taking refuge in hospitals alongside patients and medical staff in the northern part of Gaza.
Accusations have been exchanged between Israel and Hamas regarding the presence of military infrastructure in Gaza hospitals. Israel alleged that Hamas had established command centers within these facilities, a claim denied by the group.
Air raids were also heard in Rafah, a southern town near Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt, the only access point not blocked by Israel. In addition, clashes between Hamas and Israeli troops were reported east of Khan Younis, according to Palestinian media.
Although internet and phone services had partially been restored since the blackout on Friday, some areas in the north were still experiencing disruptions, according to telecoms providers.
The conflict extended beyond Gaza, with clashes between Hamas-led militants and Israeli forces in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin. The city has witnessed numerous casualties and arrests since the initial attack by Hamas on October 7. Israel claimed to have apprehended 700 Hamas militants in the West Bank, where their forces often face gunfire during arrest operations.
Medical authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza estimated that over 8,000 people have lost their lives since the conflict began. Rescue teams are struggling to reach those trapped under the rubble, with approximately 1,800 people, including 940 children, reported missing or awaiting rescue.
The conflict has sparked global demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians. In Beirut, thousands rallied on Sunday to express their support for Gaza.
In Russia, anti-Israel protests led to unrest at an airport in the predominantly Muslim region of Dagestan. Sixty people were arrested after hundreds of demonstrators stormed the facility upon the arrival of a plane from Israel. Security forces managed to contain the situation, and the passengers on the plane were unharmed.
Pressure has mounted for a “humanitarian pause” to allow aid into Gaza amid Israel’s escalating ground attacks. Mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Qatar, continued, with discussions focused on the potential release of hostages.
Hamas sought a five-day pause in Israel’s operations to permit aid and fuel into Gaza in exchange for the release of all civilian hostages held by the militants. The hostages, who held passports from 25 countries, including 54 Thai nationals, are a significant concern for the Israeli government.
The OHCHR reported that 33 trucks carrying water, food, and medical supplies entered Gaza on Sunday, marking the largest delivery thus far. However, more substantial aid deliveries are urgently required to address the escalating crisis and prevent civil unrest. On Sunday, desperate individuals stormed aid stores in search of food.
Today, the United Nations Security Council will receive a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Despite four unsuccessful votes on draft resolutions in the past two weeks, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly called for an immediate humanitarian truce last Friday.
US President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, emphasized the need to protect civilians in Gaza and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian aid.
Israel remains resolute in its mission to eliminate Hamas, describing it as a protracted task requiring ground assaults both in and around Gaza City, where the militants have an extensive network of underground bunkers.
Concerns persist that the conflict may escalate and spill over into neighboring regions, including Lebanon, where the Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group have exchanged fire. President Biden has warned Iran against exacerbating the conflict, while Iran has urged the US to refrain from blaming it for the violence.
In Syria, Israeli airstrikes targeted two army posts in Daraa, causing casualties and heightening tensions in the region. Israel has not officially commented on the strikes.
