2023-10-28 20:36:23
Hamas, which controls Gaza, claims that 7,703 people, mostly civilians, were killed in these bombings, the heaviest toll for this small territory since the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory in 2005.
The UN fears a humanitarian catastrophe in this 360 m2 territory. Its Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, deplored the “unprecedented escalation of bombings” which “compromise humanitarian objectives”, according to him, calling once again for an immediate ceasefire.
Around 2.4 million people live crowded together in Gaza, lacking water, food, electricity, and since Friday, communications and internet.
In total, 84 trucks of humanitarian aid have been able to arrive via Egypt, according to the UN, but at least a hundred are needed per day.
” A battlefield “
“The war in the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult and we are ready for it,” Netanyahu said at a news conference in Tel Aviv, adding that his army “will destroy the enemy on land and under the ground “.
A reference to the gigantic network of underground tunnels of hundreds of kilometers from where, according to the military, Hamas directs its operations.
From now on, “the second stage of the war is underway, the objective of which is clear: destroy the military capabilities and leadership of Hamas; bring the hostages home,” Mr. Netanyahu said after meeting with the families of the 230 people held captive in the Gaza Strip, according to the authorities’ latest count.
The Israeli army on Saturday repeated its call for residents of Gaza (north) to “leave immediately” towards the south, saying that it now considered this city and its region as a “battlefield”.
According to the spokesperson for Civil Defense in Gaza, Mahmoud Bassal, “hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed” during the day.
In the Shati refugee camp, on the outskirts of Gaza City, the bombings caused significant damage.
Also read Hamas-Israel war: hundreds of buildings completely destroyed in the latest Israeli raids in Gaza
The Israeli army reported “several Hamas terrorists killed” including a leader “who took part in the organization of the October 7 massacre” which deeply traumatized Israeli society.
Salvos of rockets were also fired from Gaza towards Israel during the day, wounding three people, according to doctors.
Hostage-prisoner exchange?
After “a night of immense anguish” due to the intense bombing, the families of the hostages were finally received on Saturday by Mr. Netanyahu.
Only four female hostages have been released to date. Hamas, which had threatened to execute hostages, estimates the number of them killed in the bombings to be “nearly 50”.
“We are ready to immediately conclude an exchange to release all the prisoners in the Zionist enemy’s prisons in exchange for all the hostages,” Hamas leader in Gaza Mr. Sinouar said in a statement.
The Israeli prime minister told the families of the hostages that he would explore “all options” to have them released.
Black-out
The bombings on Gaza coincided with a communications and internet blackout in Gaza.
NGOs and UN agencies have reported losing contact with their teams in Gaza.
Humanitarian operations and hospital activity “cannot continue without communications,” said Lynn Hastings, a UN official.
Also read Didier Leroy: “The “Hamas = Daesh” analogy does not hold”
On October 9, Israel imposed a “total siege” on Gaza, cutting off water, electricity and food supplies, while the Palestinian territory had already been subject to an Israeli land, air and sea blockade for more than 16 years.
“Many more” people will “soon die” due to the siege, said the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini.
Some surgical operations are carried out without completely putting patients to sleep due to the shortage of anesthetic products, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned on Saturday.
Léo Cans, MSF head of mission in Jerusalem in charge of the Palestinian territories, recounted the operation this week on “a 10-year-old child, who had to amputate half of his left foot under semi-sedation, on the hospital floor in the hallway because all the operating rooms were full.”
“Existential challenge”
Israel wants to “annihilate” the Islamist movement, in retaliation for the October 7 attack. That day, in the middle of Shabbat, the weekly Jewish rest, hundreds of Hamas fighters infiltrated from Gaza onto Israeli soil, where they carried out the deadliest attack in Israeli history.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Israel as a “war criminal”, who subsequently announced that he would recall his diplomats from Turkey in order to “reassess relations” between the two countries.
Thousands of people demonstrated abroad, in London and Paris in support of the Palestinians.
Defeating Hamas is an “existential challenge” for Israel, said the Israeli Prime Minister, once again attacking Tehran. “I think 90% of Hamas’ military budget comes from Iran,” he accused.
The international community fears a regional conflagration, while Iran, support of Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, has issued warnings to the United States, a close ally of Israel.
Tension is also very high in the West Bank occupied since 1967, where more than 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since October 7.
1698542647
#Netanyahu #war #Hamas #long #difficult