Israel-Hamas war: Israel claims to have recaptured Gaza, death toll crosses 3,000 mark
As the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists enters its fifth day, Israel is preparing to escalate the attack by launching a ground offensive in Gaza, along with continuing air raids.
The Israel Army is mobilising its members in southern Israel, and more members of the reserve forces have also been called in, along with heavy military equipment. The combined death toll of Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel and the retaliatory air raids in Gaza has crossed 3,000 so far.
The Israeli Defence Force has announced that they have regained control of southern Israel, bordering Gaza.
The overnight air strikes by Israel were reported to have targeted the home of the father of Mohammad Deif, the Hamas military commander, in the Qizan-an-Najjar neighbourhood of Gaza.
ISRAEL-PALESTINE WAR: TOP DEVELOPMENTS
Israel has announced that its army has recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas terrorists, where several killings have occurred since the Palestinian group launched its attack. The Israeli army has assumed control of many of the areas and roads in the region.
The first plane with ‘advanced’ ammunition from the United States has landed in Israel’s Nevatim airbase, the Israel Defence Force confirmed. The army stated this set of ammunition is intended “to enable significant strikes and preparations for additional scenarios.” The US government had earlier vowed “rock solid and unwavering” support to Israel.
In his latest statement, the US President Joe Biden pledged support for Israel and issued a warning to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the situation. Biden called the Hamas attacks “an act of sheer evil” and added that “We stand ready to move in additional assets as needed.
“Let me say again to any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: don’t,” the US president said.
The Israeli army also launched shelling in Syria after rockets were fired in the Golan Heights area. “A number of launches from Syria aimed for Israel were identified a short while ago. Part of the launches crossed into Israeli territory and presumably fell in open areas..” Isreal army said.
The military did not accuse any group of the rocket attack. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that a Palestinian faction conducted the rocket attack from Syrian territory. Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for an attack on northern Israel from Syria earlier.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Israel on Thursday in a show of “solidarity and support”. According to White House officials, Blinken will meet with top Israeli officials and “reaffirm US solidarity with the government and people of Israel”. The top US official will also discuss “measures to bolster Israel’s security and underscore the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself,” the State Department said. He will also visit neighbouring Jordan on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is concerned over the “catastrophic increase” in civilian deaths in Israel and Gaza and alleged that the war between Israel and the Palestinians showed the “failure of US policy in the Middle East”.
“I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East,” Putin told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The Moscow officials stated that Putin is talking to both parties and is seeking to resolve the conflict.
According to the Israeli military, their fighter jets struck more than 200 targets overnight in Gaza, toppling buildings, including centres of Hamas terrorists. One home struck belongs to the father of Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’ armed wing in Gaza, Palestine media reported. As per UN data, more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his latest statement, compared the Hamas terrorists with ISIS and vowed to eliminate them. “I spoke tonight with US President Joe Biden for the third time. I told him that Hamas is worse than ISIS – and that they should be treated that way,” Netanuahu said. He added that the attack by Hamas “with such barbarism that has not been seen since the Holocaust”.
Meanwhile, although it rejected the charges of helping Hamas terrorists to attack Israel, Iran’s Khamenei held Israel responsible for the situation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Israelis in a post on his official X account, “You brought this calamity upon yourselves.” He also added, “Dictatorial Zionists, you cannot recover from the defeat of October 7.”
The total blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza is continuing. Israel has ordered a ‘complete siege’ on the Gaza Strip, stating that ‘no electricity, no food, no fuel’ will be supplied to the region with over 2.3 million populatipon.