20-10-2023 (TEL AVIV) The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated further as Israel continues its airstrikes on Gaza in response to the rampage carried out by Hamas gunmen on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday, October 19, that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave “from inside,” suggesting an expected ground invasion with the aim of annihilating Hamas could be nearing.
Following in the footsteps of US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the region to demonstrate Western support for the war against Hamas militants.
The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, has been under siege by Israel, leading to relentless bombardments that have claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million residents.
In the northern part of Gaza, footage obtained by Reuters from the Jabaliya refugee camp revealed a heartbreaking scene of residents desperately digging with their bare hands inside a damaged building to rescue a small boy and girl trapped under debris. The body of a man was also recovered from the wreckage.
Meanwhile, Egypt has taken steps to prepare for the delivery of aid through its border crossing with Gaza, with the first shipments expected on Friday. The crossing had been closed since the beginning of the conflict and subjected to Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian side of the border.
Addressing the troops, Minister Gallant stated, “You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come.” However, it is expected that the ground invasion will not take place while foreign leaders are visiting the region. Shortly after Gallant’s statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video of himself with troops near the border, promising victory.
The families of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza pleaded for their release, urging Hamas to consider their safety and for the Israeli military to take their well-being into account as they pursue the militant group. According to military sources, approximately 200 individuals, including 30 minors, 20 elderly individuals, and young children, are being held captive.
President Biden returned to the United States after his brief visit to Israel, as the planned summit with the Egyptian and Palestinian leaders in Jordan was canceled due to a Gaza hospital explosion. Palestinians blamed the explosion on an Israeli airstrike, while Israel claimed it was caused by a failed rocket launch by militants. Biden supported Israel’s account of the incident.
An unclassified US intelligence report obtained by Reuters estimated that the death toll from the hospital blast was likely at the lower end of the 100 to 300 range, but further assessment is needed. The report also stated that the hospital had only sustained light structural damage.
Palestinian officials reported that the Israeli strikes on Gaza have resulted in more than 3,500 deaths and over 12,000 injuries. Heart-wrenching scenes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, showed men rushing to the main Nasser hospital carrying dead and wounded children, victims of a bomb that struck a house. Residents expressed their anguish at the loss of innocent lives.
The limited aid deliveries of trucks from foreign countries and Arab allies have been met with skepticism by Gaza residents, who are demanding an end to the violent bombardment of their homes. The destruction caused by the conflict is evident, with shopping districts reduced to rubble and displaced families left homeless and desperate for assistance.
The United Nations reports that approximately half of the Gazan population has been displaced, trapped within the densely populated enclave. The dire situation has sparked anger across the Middle East, making it increasingly challenging for Western leaders, including Biden, to rally Arab allies in efforts to prevent the further escalation of the war.
Before leaving the region, President Biden appealed to Israelis to control their anger, drawing parallels to the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, urging restraint and caution in seeking justice.
