Israeli warplanes conducted multiple airstrikes in Gaza overnight in preparation for a potential ground offensive aimed at eradicating Hamas. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group on Israel as morally reprehensible and issued a warning directed at its Iranian supporters.
According to Israel, numerous fighter jets targeted over 200 locations in a Gaza City neighborhood that Hamas allegedly used as a launching pad for their unprecedented wave of assaults.
The Israeli military reported that they have eliminated at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza during incursions that commenced over the weekend. In response to the escalating hostilities, the military has bolstered security in all Israeli communities and expanded operations to other fronts.
The health ministry in Gaza has reported that since Saturday, when Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel’s history by rampaging through parts of southern Israel, at least 950 individuals have been killed and 5,000 injured in the densely populated coastal enclave.
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Israel’s military has stated that the death toll in Israel has risen to 1,200, with over 2,700 people sustaining injuries.
In a video briefing on X, formerly known as Twitter, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus acknowledged the significant number of casualties, with the majority being civilians who were shot in their homes, on the streets, or at an outdoor gathering. Numerous Israelis and foreign nationals were also taken hostage and paraded through the streets of Gaza, as depicted in social media posts.
Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has issued a statement calling for protests across the Arab world in support of the Palestinians. The statement, which was recorded and seen by Reuters, urges people to demonstrate on Friday. Meanwhile, Israel’s Security Minister has announced plans to increase the number of firearms issued to licensed citizens, citing concerns about possible friction between the country’s Arab minority and majority Jewish population. Hamas militants, who are holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage, have threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit without warning. However, there is no evidence that they have carried out this threat.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned that Hamas will face a change, and that the offensive against them will intensify. The situation carries risks for Israel, particularly for the many hostages held in the densely populated Gaza Strip. The US is in talks with Israel and Egypt about the possibility of safe passage for civilians from Gaza. At least 1,000 gunmen who had infiltrated from Gaza have been killed, according to the Israel Hayom newspaper. Israel withdrew troops from Gaza in 2005 after 38 years of occupation, but has kept it under blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007. On Israel’s northern border, rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel, prompting Israeli shelling in return. There are fears that the violence could lead to a wider war.
He informed the press that the United States has bolstered its military presence in the region to reinforce its deterrent capabilities. This includes the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and fighter aircraft.
In an apparent allusion to Iran and its proxies in the region, Biden stated, “I would like to reiterate to any country, organization, or individual considering exploiting the situation, I have one message: refrain from doing so.”
While U.S. officials do not possess evidence implicating Iran in orchestrating the attacks, they highlight Iran’s longstanding support for Hamas.
Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, in a recorded statement obtained by Reuters, called for demonstrations across the Arab world on Friday to express solidarity with the Palestinians.
Meshaal, who currently heads Hamas’s diaspora office, urged individuals to gather in the public squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic nations on what he referred to as the “Friday of Al Aqsa Flood.”
Biden dispatched his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to Israel, who will convey a message of solidarity and support, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that discussions were underway with Israel and Egypt regarding the possibility of establishing a secure passage for civilians to exit Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition and opposition leaders were on the verge of forming an emergency unity government.
Several countries, including Fiji, South Korea, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Canada, initiated efforts to evacuate their citizens, many of whom were stranded due to the cancellation of flights by major airlines.
According to Palestinian media, Israeli airstrikes targeted residences in Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis, and the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
Reports indicate that one of the homes struck belonged to the father of Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’ armed wing in Gaza. Deif’s brother and other family members were reportedly killed in the attack.
Residents, seeking assistance through social media, reported numerous collapsed buildings, with up to 50 individuals trapped inside and rescue workers unable to reach them.
