- In the last 24 hours, we have witnessed a significant aerial assault on Gaza.
- Israel has mobilised reserve troops around Gaza, raising concerns of a potential ground invasion, while tensions remain high in the West Bank. Gaza faces a massive Israeli bombardment, with strikes on over 500 targets reported.
In the brutally battered, occupied West Bank, a further 15 Palestinians civilians have tragically lost their lives due to Israeli fire since the outbreak began on Saturday. This brings the Palestinian death toll to 493 according to health officials, including 78 Gazan children. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since the recent chain of events according to Media officials.
Jason Lee, Save the Children’s Charity Country Director for the occupied Palestinian territory, said children’s sense of safety had been “ripped away”.
“Our teams and their families are terrified; they feel like sitting targets. Children across the region are in constant fear,” he said. “This violence must stop, otherwise children will continue to pay the price.”
Within this time frame, ground confrontations have primarily remained localised within Israeli territory, unfolding at multiple sites along the Gaza border.
Gazan resident, Reefat al Areer shared his harrowing testimony:
“Every Palestinian in Gaza is a target. We go outside just to buy necessary food items, especially for the kids. Almost everybody is inside because it is not safe even inside. Israel can still target and kill people wherever they are.”
“Israel is displacing forcibly by bombing areas and ordering people to leave. There is no place that is safe for Palestinians on the Gaza Strip.”
In addition, according to ‘on the ground’, Al Jazeera journalist, Youmna ElSayed:
“Within ten minutes “two massive raids” hit Jabalia and the al-Shati refugee camps. Dozens of casualties have been brought to Gaza City’s main hospital.”
A mosque in al-Shati was hit without any previous warning by the Israeli army, she said.
In tandem with these ground engagements, there has been a massive Israeli bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, involving fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft, and artillery. As of Monday, the Israeli military has reported strikes on over 500 targets within Gaza.
Israel has mobilized approximately 100,000 reserve troops around Gaza, prompting concerns of an imminent ground invasion of the besieged strip. US officials have also signalled this possibility. Additionally, the United States has strategically positioned navy ships and warplanes closer to Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean. Reports have emerged of an American military transport aircraft arriving from a US base in Jordan.
Pictured: Israeli soldiers driving near Sderot, Israel, on Sunday.The Pentagon announced it would send munitions to Israel and move warships closer to the country.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III announced his directive to deploy the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford along with five guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, all currently located in the Mediterranean Sea, to the eastern region of the sea, adjacent to Israel. Authorities clarified that the vessels were in transit but would require several days to reach their destination.
Simultaneously, Israel has launched a sustained and extensive aerial assault on Gaza, targeting residential towers, mosques, hospitals, banks, and critical civilian infrastructure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the following statement regarding the situation:
“The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas’s capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens……
All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble.
I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.
Today, I spoke with US President Biden and with other world leaders in order to ensure freedom of action for Israel in the continuation of the campaign. I thank President Biden for his strong and clear words. I thank the President of France, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and many other leaders for their unreserved support for Israel……”
A total blockade has been imposed on Gaza. The Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant announced plans to prevent the entry of food, water, and fuel into the Gaza Strip.
Gallant described the move as part of a war against “beastly people”.
“We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement.
Pictured: Al Yarmouth Mosque, Gaza city, bombed by Israeli war planes- 9th October.
Pictured: Rabat University College in Gaza City reduced to ruins by Israeli airstrikes
Meanwhile in the UK, Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak showed his solidarity with Israel by projecting the Israeli flag on Downing Street:
