In a series of targeted airstrikes on Thursday, Israel extended its military operations into the southern regions of the Gaza Strip, an area previously designated as a safe zone for Palestinians.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Israeli infantry troops stationed at the Gaza border, instructing them to be prepared for potential ground operations. While a specific timeline was not provided, Israel has amassed significant troop presence along the border.
Gallant asserted, "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside... I promise you." He emphasized a sustained effort, stating, "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," referring to the militant group Hamas.
Economy Minister Nir Barakat, in an interview with ABC News, underscored the prioritization of neutralizing Hamas over concerns of civilian casualties or hostages, even if the operation were to extend for a year.
Notably, Israel has granted consent for Egypt to facilitate the entry of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine into the sealed territory. This marks a potential breakthrough for the beleaguered residents of Gaza, many of whom have been reduced to one meal per day and rely on contaminated water sources.
Fuel, however, was not initially included in the list of permitted items. An anonymous senior Egyptian security official stated that negotiations are underway for the provision of fuel to hospitals in Gaza. Over 200 trucks carrying approximately 3,000 tons of aid are positioned near or at the Rafah crossing, as confirmed by Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai.
An agreement has been established between the United Nations, Israel, and Egypt, whereby U.N. observers will inspect aid-carrying trucks before their entry into Gaza. Flags bearing the U.N. emblem will be raised on both sides of the crossing, aimed at providing visual protection against potential Israeli airstrikes.
The capacity of the crossing to handle incoming cargo remains unclear. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, noted that efforts to repair the road between the two gates, damaged by Israeli strikes, have not yet commenced.
Previously, Israel had maintained a stance of permitting no entry into Gaza until Hamas released the hostages taken in the initial attack on October 7th. Relatives of the captives expressed strong disapproval of the aid announcement, with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum issuing a statement accusing the Israeli government of showing leniency towards the perpetrators of the attack.
0 Comments