Israel has said that it is stepping up attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. The country continues to target southern Gaza, where many civilians have sought shelter, following Israeli instructions
Women mourn during the funeral in the occupied West Bank village of Kafr Qallil of 17-year-old Oday Mansour, a day after Israeli military killed him at a military checkpoint near Hawara on October 21, 2023. Photo/AFP
Israel has said that it is stepping up attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. The country continues to target southern Gaza, where many civilians have sought shelter, following Israeli instructions. There are growing expectations of a potential ground offensive.
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The Israeli Defense Forces conducted an airstrike on the Al-Ansar mosque in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The IDF stated that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been using an underground route beneath the mosque. Tragically, one Palestinian was killed in the shelling, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Tensions have been rising in the West Bank, with dozens of Palestinians losing their lives in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids, and attacks by Jewish settlers.
Meanwhile, after two weeks of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, aid deliveries have started reaching the besieged Gaza Strip. The violence began when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, leading to Israeli airstrikes that has so far killed over 4400 Palestinians including children and women. The airstrikes also include a hit on a Gaza hospital that killed over 500 people.
As the conflict enters its 16th day, it has become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll has reached 4,385, and 13,561 people have been wounded. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have died, with the majority of casualties occurring during the initial attack on October 7 when Hamas militants entered Israel. Additionally, 203 individuals were believed to have been captured by Hamas during the incursion.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations involving tens of thousands of participants are taking place in cities such as London, Barcelona, and Los Angeles. A tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza has resurfaced, evoking memories of past traumas.
Also read: Hamas frees two Americans amid Israeli airstrikes
Late Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of additional air defense systems to the Middle East, as well as the readiness of more troops. This decision was made in response to the recent escalations in the region. The U.S. will deliver a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery along with extra Patriot missile defense system batteries to enhance the protection of U.S. troops in the region. This move was prompted by the repeated targeting of bases in Iraq and Syria by drones and the interception of land attack cruise missiles in the Red Sea.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Israel after participating in a summit in Cairo focused on de-escalating the Israel-Hamas conflict. During her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Meloni reiterated Israel's right to self-defense under international law and the importance of ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza. She conveyed a message of solidarity and Italy's support following Hamas' attack on October 7.
President Joe Biden spoke by phone with the two American hostages, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, who were released by Hamas. This marked the first hostage release from the group of roughly 200 people abducted during Hamas' attack on Israel. In the video call, Biden expressed his relief at their release and vowed to continue efforts to secure the release of all hostages. Natalie thanked Biden for his support, and both hostages reported that they are in good health.
Hamas stated that they released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in agreement with the Qatari government. The Raanan family had been on a trip to Israel from their home in Evanston, a Chicago suburb, to celebrate Judith's mother's birthday and the Jewish holidays. (With inputs from AP)
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