After Hamas attack: Israeli troops fight "deep" in Gaza

After Hamas attack: Israeli troops fight "deep" in Gaza

One month after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel, ground troops of the Israeli armed forces have, according to their own statements, penetrated "deep" into the city of Gaza. The units are "currently in the depths" of the city and are exerting "great pressure" on Hamas, which rules there, said military spokesman Daniel Hagari on Tuesday evening. "We are seeing successes, but there is still a long way to go."

According to the Israeli armed forces, they have attacked 14,000 targets in the Gaza Strip since the start of the military operation. Among other things, more than 100 entrances to tunnels have been destroyed in the past month and numerous Hamas commanders have been killed, said military spokesman Hagari. Israeli units had also destroyed over 4,000 weapons. Many were hidden in mosques, kindergartens and residential areas. "This is proof of the cynical abuse of civilians as human shields by Hamas," said the rear admiral.

Head of government Benjamin Netanyahu had previously said in a televised address: "Hamas realizes that we are reaching places they thought we would never reach". Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA.

On October 7, terrorists from Hamas and other groups killed more than 1,400 people in massacres and attacks in the Israeli border area and abducted numerous hostages in the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli armed forces carried out air strikes and deployed ground troops in the densely populated coastal strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 10,300. The figures cannot currently be independently verified.

Baerbock: More than 200 Germans have left Gaza

Meanwhile, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed the departure of more than 200 Germans and their family members from the Gaza Strip. "This gives hope in the midst of the terrible situation in Gaza," the Green politician wrote on Platform X on Wednesday. The German government is "continuing to work until every German who wants to leave can do so".

Über 200 Deutsche & Familienangehörige konnten inzwischen aus #Gaza ausreisen. Das gibt Hoffnung inmitten der furchtbaren Lage in Gaza. Vielen Dank an unsere Partner in Ägypten für die Unterstützung. Wir arbeiten weiter, bis jeder Deutsche, der ausreisen will, dies auch kann. 1/3— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) November 7, 2023

Baerbock once again called for humanitarian ceasefires in the Gaza war in order to alleviate the plight of civilians. "The images from Gaza leave no one indifferent," she wrote. "That is why I am campaigning so hard for humanitarian ceasefires." She had "held countless talks and discussed with all partners how we can finally get humanitarian ceasefires off the ground, both in terms of time and geography. It must now become concrete." The people in Gaza need water, bread and medical care. The most seriously injured must finally be treated.

Hundreds commemorate the victims of the Hamas attack in Jerusalem

Four weeks after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel, hundreds of people commemorated the victims in Jerusalem. According to media reports, they held a 30-minute vigil in memory of the people killed and abducted by terrorists on October 7.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, relatives of the hostages also set up a protest camp near the Israeli parliament. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Israel, there is massive criticism of the head of government, who has not yet taken direct responsibility for the political and military failure on October 7.

Further rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel

The Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, fired rockets at the center of Israel again in the evening. Warning sirens also sounded several times in the greater Tel Aviv area. The military arm of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks on Telegram. According to initial reports, no one was injured. According to Israeli figures, more than 9,000 rockets have been fired at Israeli towns and villages from the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7. Hamas, which rules the coastal region, claimed responsibility for a large proportion of these.

ICRC: Previous aid in Gaza is a "drop in the ocean"

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called for more aid for the people in the Gaza Strip. The deliveries that have arrived so far are only "a drop in the ocean", said Imene Trabelsi, regional spokesperson for the ICRC in the Near and Middle East, to the German Press Agency.

The humanitarian situation for the population is deteriorating from day to day. The situation is particularly bad for the hundreds of thousands of families who have fled, as the emergency shelters are overcrowded. "Many are forced to sleep in open spaces on the street," said Trabelsi. They lack things like blankets or baby food.

Red Cross: aid convoy in Gaza city shot at

According to the organization, a Red Cross convoy carrying medical supplies came under fire in the city of Gaza. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), two of the five trucks were damaged on Tuesday and one driver was slightly injured. The transport was on its way to the Palestinian Red Crescent's Al-Quds Hospital, among other places.

"Humanitarian aid workers cannot work under these circumstances," said ICRC representative William Schomburg. He pointed out that parties to the conflict are obliged under international law to enable the provision of vital supplies to health facilities.

What is important today

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, plans to travel to the crisis region in the Middle East. His office has announced that he will visit Egypt and Jordan, among other places, to discuss the human rights situation in the region. The Austrian UN diplomat will meet with the Egyptian Foreign Minister as well as representatives of regional organizations and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States in Cairo. Türk also plans to visit the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt today.

1. Despite the Israeli military pressure on Hamas in Gaza, tensions remain high in the Middle East, with the Islamist group launching rocket attacks towards Israeli cities, such as Tel Aviv, on several occasions.
2. The international community, including organizations like the ICRC, has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with many civilians facing food shortages, homelessness, and lack of medical care.
3. Meanwhile, political leaders, such as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, have called for humanitarian ceasefires in the region, aiming to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population and promote peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Source: www.dpa.com