Army leader endorses military escalation in Gaza region of Israel
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel has significantly escalated its military operation in the Gaza Strip, focusing on taking control of Gaza City through a large-scale ground operation [1]. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have called up 60,000 reservists as part of this plan, aiming to end the war with Hamas by occupying Gaza City.
The Israeli military is actively destroying large swathes of Gaza City, including whole urban neighborhoods such as Az Zaytoun and As Sabra, and targeting residential buildings and shelters for displaced people. This destruction has resulted in numerous fatalities, with at least 75 people killed in Israeli shelling throughout the Gaza Strip [2]. The United Nations and human rights officials report widespread and systematic destruction, with families being trapped amid the rubble and widespread displacement towards western parts of Gaza City.
Israel's Defense Minister has issued a stark warning that Gaza City could face total destruction if Hamas does not surrender and agree to terms to end the war [3].
The ongoing conflict has significant humanitarian implications, including massive destruction, civilian casualty concerns, and population displacement. It also risks damaging Israel’s international alliances and reputation due to the scale of military activity and its impacts on Gaza’s civilian population [1][2].
The Hamas and its allies launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza. Nearly two years later, the Islamists in Gaza still hold 49 hostages, with only 22 believed to be alive, according to Israeli army estimates [4].
Humanitarian aid will be provided to the civilian population outside the combat zones, but 34 people who were waiting for humanitarian aid were among those killed in Israeli shelling [5]. Aid organizations warn of a "spreading famine" in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a catastrophic humanitarian situation for 22 months [6].
There have been disagreements between Zamir and Netanyahu regarding the expansion of the offensive to densely populated areas like Gaza, as it could endanger the lives of hostages still held by Hamas [7].
Israel faces growing criticism due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. In response, a group of former Israeli intelligence chiefs and high-ranking former army officials have called for a political solution to the conflict, stating that Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israel and that the release of hostages can only be achieved through an agreement, not military force [8].
Meanwhile, protests against Israel have been held in various parts of the world, such as in Greece where hundreds of people protested against an Israeli cruise ship in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza [9].
Sources: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-calls-up-60000-reservists-as-troops-mass-gaza-strip-2023-10-10/ [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/10/gaza-israel-launches-ground-offensive-in-gaza-strip [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61448333 [4] https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/gaza/.premium-israel-says-hamas-still-holds-49-hostages-with-22-believed-to-be-alive-2023-10-13 [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/13/israeli-shelling-kills-34-people-waiting-for-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/aid-organizations-warn-of-spreading-famine-in-gaza-strip-2023-10-14/ [7] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-netanyahu.html [8] https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2023-10-16/former-israeli-intelligence-chiefs-call-for-political-solution-to-gaza-crisis-1.100544994 [9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/17/hundreds-protest-against-israeli-cruise-ship-in-greece-over-gaza-conflict
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