29-10-2023 (GAZA) Israel announced on Saturday that its war with Hamas had entered a new phase as the Israeli army continued its relentless bombardment of Gaza, three weeks after the conflict was sparked by the deadliest attack in the country’s history.
The United Nations issued a warning, stating that thousands more civilians could die as Israel escalated its ground operations in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory. Rescue workers reported that the fierce overnight bombardment had destroyed hundreds of buildings.
Israel initiated its bombing campaign in response to Hamas gunmen storming across the Gaza border on October 7. According to Israeli officials, the attack resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of over 220 hostages.
The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reported that Israeli strikes had killed 7,703 people, predominantly civilians, including more than 3,500 children.
This conflict marks the fifth and deadliest confrontation in Gaza since Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops and settlers from the Palestinian territory in 2005.
Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, expressed concerns about the catastrophic consequences that large-scale ground operations in Gaza could have, warning that thousands more civilians could lose their lives.
The intense Israeli strikes against Hamas, the Islamist group that has governed Gaza since 2007, coincided with ground operations and the massing of tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border in anticipation of a full-blown invasion.
Limited ground incursions by Israeli forces were also conducted on Wednesday and Thursday.
In a video message on Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “We’ve entered a new phase in the war. Last night, the ground in Gaza shook. We attacked above the ground and below the ground. We attacked terror operatives of all ranks in every location.”
According to Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza Civil Defence, “hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed, and thousands of other homes were damaged” due to the bombing.
Witnesses reported that the majority of the bombing occurred in the Jabaliya district of northern Gaza, resulting in wide craters in the streets and the flattening of numerous buildings. The situation was described as one where death was pervasive.
On October 7, hundreds of Hamas fighters, using vehicles, air, and sea routes, crossed the Israeli border and indiscriminately killed civilians in the streets, homes, and at an outdoor rave party.
This unprecedented attack caught Israel off guard and exposed serious intelligence failures.
“The army entered the Gaza Strip and extended its operations” with tanks and artillery, said Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday.
The Israeli army stated that its fighter jets targeted 150 “terror tunnels, underground combat spaces, and additional underground infrastructure,” resulting in the deaths of several Hamas terrorists.
In response, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have targeted Israeli forces in a northern Gaza area near the border on Saturday.
Israeli warplanes flew overhead, and booms were heard coming from Gaza, according to AFP journalists.
A Gaza Civil Defence official lamented the challenges faced in reaching survivors under the rubble, stating, “There are a large number of martyrs and a large number of survivors under the rubble, and we cannot reach them.”
Respiratory physician Raed al-Astal, speaking from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, said, “The stench of death is everywhere, in every neighborhood, every street, and every house.”
Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded immediate government clarification about their loved ones’ fate after the intensified strikes by the Israeli army.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the 229 people believed to have been abducted by Hamas, criticized the war cabinet for failing to address whether the ground operation endangered the well-being of the captives.
“The families are worried about the fate of their loved ones… Every minute feels like eternity,” said the group.
On Thursday, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades claimed that “almost 50” hostages had been killed in Israeli bombings since October 7. However, AFP could not independently verify this figure.
Yael Leviel, a resident of Tel Aviv, expressed that reading about the Israeli operations offered “support and strength” as the people lived in profound fear.
“We cannot afford to lower our guard… our very existence is at stake,” said the 50-year-old social worker.
Hamas reported a complete blackout of internet connections and communications throughout Gaza. AFP journalists in Gaza confirmed that they could only communicate in limited areas where they could connect to Israeli networks across the border. Rights Watch cautioned that the near-total telecommunications blackout in Gaza could provide cover for mass atrocities.
The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that the blackout had disrupted ambulance services, while Lynne Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, remarked on X (formerly Twitter) that “hospitals & humanitarian operations can’t continue without communications.”
Due to the bombardments and fuel shortages, 12 out of Gaza’s Israel’s Conflict with Hamas Enters New Phase as Bombing Continues in Gaza
Israel declared on Saturday that its ongoing war with Hamas had entered a new phase, with the Israeli army intensifying its relentless bombing campaign in Gaza. The conflict, which erupted three weeks ago following the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, has raised concerns of a rising civilian death toll as Israel escalates its ground operations in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory. Rescuers on the ground reported widespread destruction caused by the fierce overnight bombardment, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble.
The Israeli military launched its bombing campaign in response to a Hamas incursion across the Gaza border on October 7. According to Israeli officials, the attack resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and the capture of over 220 hostages. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza claimed that Israeli strikes have killed 7,703 people, mostly civilians, including over 3,500 children.
This conflict marks the fifth and deadliest confrontation between Israel and Hamas in Gaza since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Palestinian territory in 2005. The United Nations has warned of the potential catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza, expressing concerns that thousands more civilians could lose their lives.
The Israeli airstrikes, targeting Hamas, have been accompanied by ground operations and the massing of tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border, indicating a possible full-scale invasion. Limited ground incursions have already taken place on Wednesday and Thursday. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the war has entered a new phase, with attacks targeting terror operatives of all ranks in various locations.
Reports from Gaza indicate that the Jabaliya district in the northern part of the territory has borne the brunt of the bombing, resulting in extensive damage, wide craters in the streets, and the collapse of numerous buildings. Witnesses described the situation as one of pervasive death and destruction.
The conflict was triggered by a large-scale attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7, who crossed the Israeli border using various means of transportation and indiscriminately killed civilians in the streets, homes, and even at an outdoor rave party. The surprising nature of the attack caught Israel off-guard, exposing serious intelligence failures.
The Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that ground operations had been extended within the Gaza Strip, involving the deployment of tanks and artillery. Israeli fighter jets targeted numerous “terror tunnels, underground combat spaces, and additional underground infrastructure,” resulting in the deaths of several Hamas militants. In response, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have targeted Israeli forces near the border.
Residents of Gaza expressed desperation and grief, as rescue efforts were hindered by the extensive destruction. Survivors remained trapped under the rubble, and with the stench of death permeating the neighborhoods, the situation was described as dire. Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded immediate clarification from the government regarding the fate of their loved ones, expressing anxiety and impatience over the lack of information.
The conflict has also resulted in a near-total blackout of internet connections and communication services across Gaza. Human Rights Watch raised concerns that the blackout could provide cover for potential mass atrocities. Ambulance services have been disrupted, and hospitals and humanitarian operations have been severely affected due to the lack of communication. The UN has reported the closure of 12 out of Gaza’s 35 hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to halt its attacks, describing them as madness. The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza, receiving overwhelming support. However, Israel and the United States criticized the resolution for its failure to mention Hamas.
The conflict has resulted in the displacement of over 1.4 million people within Gaza, with limited access to food, water, and electricity. Israel has blocked the delivery of fuel, citing concerns that it could be used by Hamas to manufacture weapons and explosives. Despite a small amount of aid being allowed through on October 21, the overall flow of humanitarian supplies has been severely restricted. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been forced to significantly reduce its operations in Gaza.
Violence has also escalated in the occupied West Bank since the October 7 attacks, with over 100 Palestinians killed and nearly 2,000 wounded, according to the UN. The situation remains highly volatile and continues to pose a grave threat to the lives and well-being of civilians in the region.
