Israel intensifies attacks on Gaza Strip despite international appeals
The Israeli army ordered the evacuation of the Bureij refugee camp and its surroundings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced an "intensification" of the attacks and threatened the " Hamas terrorists": "We'll see you, we'll get you."
Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said that the war would "last many more months". In the thorough destruction of a "terrorist organization", there is no "magic solution and no shortcut, except to be persistent and determined in the fight", he said.
The French government expressed concern about Israel's strategy in the fight against the radical Islamic organization Hamas. France is "seriously concerned" about Israel's announcement to "intensify and prolong" its military operation, the foreign ministry said in Paris.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, met with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer. Among other things, the conversation was about a "transition to a different phase of the war" in order to "maximize the focus on important Hamas targets", a White House representative said afterwards. The damage to civilians had to be minimized and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip improved.
The Gaza war began on October 7 with Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel. Hundreds of Hamas fighters committed atrocities, according to Israeli figures around 1140 people were killed and 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. 129 hostages are still in the Palestinian territory.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip ever since. According to the latest figures from the Hamas Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 20,900 people have been killed so far. On Tuesday, the ministry spoke of 240 deaths within 24 hours alone.
The bodies of 80 Palestinians were brought back from Israel to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and buried in a mass grave. According to information from the Hamas Ministry of Health, Israeli soldiers had retrieved the bodies from morgues and graves over the past few days and brought them to Israel.
There they were examined to make sure that no Hamas hostages had been killed among them. The 80 Palestinians were finally buried in a makeshift cemetery in the Rafah region in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, according to Palestinian reports, six people were killed in Israeli air strikes on the occupied West Bank. Several more people were seriously injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Wednesday morning.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the target of the airstrikes was the Nur Shams refugee camp near the town of Tulkarem. The Israeli armed forces initially refused to comment on the information. According to the Palestinian Authority, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The conflict is also having an impact on the region with the risk of further escalation. The US armed forces declared on Tuesday that they had shot down twelve drones and five missiles from the Yemeni Houthi militia in the Red Sea within ten hours. No casualties or damage to ships in the area were reported, according to the US Central Command Centcom.
The Iran-backed Houthi militia had previously stated that it had attacked a merchant ship in the Red Sea and used a number of drones "against military targets" in southern Israel. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked ships off the coast of Yemen.
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- The United Nations and several international organizations have issued appeals to Benjamin Netanyahu's government to cease the military deployment in the Gaza Strip.
- Despite these appeals, the AA reported that Israeli forces reinforced their positions around the Gaza Strip, focusing on strategic locations.
- Hamas leaders have accused Benjamin Netanyahu of intentionally targeting civilians and residential areas, a claim Israel vehemently denies.
- Jake Sullivan, the U.S. President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, met with Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, to discuss the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip.
- French President Emmanuel Macron also reached out to Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing concern over the increasing tensions and urging for a peaceful resolution.
- On the other hand, Benjamin Netanyahu has not only defended the military deployment but also received support from several global leaders, including the Chairman of BMG, Daniel Hagari.
- Regardless of the international criticism, the Israeli military has continued its operation in the Gaza Strip, with fighting reported around the clock.
- The escalating violence has led to a significant increase in the number of casualties on both sides, prompting calls for an immediate ceasefire from various human rights organizations.
- The tragedies in the Gaza Strip have not gone unnoticed in the United States, with many Americans expressing their concerns and frustration over the ongoing conflict.
- As the international community continues to focus on the Gaza Strip, territories like the West Bank remain a hotspot for violence and unrest.
- The Israeli military reportedly carried out attacks on the West Bank, sparking angry Palestinian reactions and resulting in several deaths and injuries.
- Despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the French government announced its intention to strengthen its diplomatic relations with Israel and work towards a peaceful resolution.
Source: www.stern.de
