Israeli forces continued to attack the Gaza Strip, preparing for a possible ground invasion as the conflict with Hamas entered the sixth day.
Hamas terrorists have taken 150 hostages, and Israel said it will not lift its siege until they are released. Israel’s military on Friday ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people — about half of the territory’s population — within 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the order “impossible” without “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Meanwhile, Hamas asked residents of the Gaza Strip to stay put and not leave their homes on Friday after the Israeli military’s evacuation order. The expected ground invasion by Israel risks high casualties.
In a bid to shore up support for its offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel showed graphic images of dead children and civilians to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Nato defence ministers, saying they were killed by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas following its deadly assault on Israeli communities on Saturday, October 7. However, Gaza is teetering on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe as the death toll surpassed 1,500 and vital supplies ran low.
Here are the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict:
An Israeli airstrike has left a refugee camp in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City in ruins. The attack was part of an intensified bombardment following a multi-front assault by Hamas militants that killed over 1,300 Israelis. The airstrikes have resulted in the death of over 1,500 Palestinians, including numerous women and children.
Iran’s UN mission has warned that if Israel does not cease its bombardment, the war may open on ‘other fronts.’ While Iran denies involvement in the Hamas attacks, it has been vocal about the success of the operation being due to its surprise nature, labelling it as Israel’s “biggest failure.”
As of October 12, 2023, Israeli artillery has been firing on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip every 30 seconds, reported news agency AFP. In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli army said it has bombarded Gaza with approximately 6,000 munitions containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday when it began striking Hamas targets.
Israel informed the United Nations on Friday that it has ordered 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to move further south within 24 hours amid speculation of a ground invasion of the territory ruled by Hamas. The UN has urged Tel Aviv to take back its evacuation order to avoid “devastating consequences”.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan termed the UN’s response to Israel’s early warning to the residents of Gaza a “disgrace”, saying it should focus on condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to self-defence, Times of Israel reported.
In response to the surprise attack by Hamas, Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed forces near Gaza, and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities. A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, was sworn in to direct the fight.
In a bid to rally support following the Hamas attack, Israel has released images of children killed in the conflict. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who flew into Tel Aviv earlier on Thursday, told reporters he was shown photographs and videos of a baby riddled with bullets, soldiers beheaded and young people burned alive in their cars or hideaways.
“It’s simply depravity in the worst imaginable way,” Blinken said.
As the war continues, international bodies and leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians caught in the crossfire. The United Nations on Thursday issued an emergency appeal for $294 million to address “the most urgent needs” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where more than 400,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in recent days.
The US has no plans to send troops to Israel, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday. “There is no intention, no plan, and frankly, no desire by the Israelis,” Kirby said. He also confirmed that the US would arrange charter flights from Israel to sites in Europe to evacuate American citizens.
Meanwhile, the first batch of around 230 Indians returned to India from Israel on a charter flight on Friday morning. India has launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of those Indians who wish to come back home as Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.