A " massive attempt by Israel to penetrate the Strip from the north and east is underway, numerous Israeli tanks have been destroyed ." The battle is ongoing around the dividing barrier."
Thus Hamas announced the start of the Tel Aviv army's land offensive. The Jewish State, however, specifies, through the spokesperson of the armed forces Peter Lerner, that it is "a land incursion into the Gaza Strip that is larger than the previous ones" but not the large "official" invasion announced days ago.
Before the offensive, Tel Aviv had carried out a long series of bombings with artillery barrages and "unprecedented" raids to weaken the opponent, raids that caused a total blackout of the Internet and communications . Then military spokesman Daniel Hagari, announcing the "expansion" of the army's land raids, launched an appeal to Palestinian residents "to evacuate towards the south of the Strip ".
“They will know our anger,” thundered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the US administration is meanwhile asking Israel to rethink its plan for the ground offensive and to opt for a more "surgical" operation , with targeted and precise raids using aircraft and special forces. Biden is worried about the potential repercussions of an all-out assault and doubts that Israel will be able to eliminate Hamas. Furthermore, a land invasion could derail negotiations to free the hostages.
Hamas for its part responds with a hail of rockets, almost all of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system in Tel Aviv, calls on the Palestinians of the West Bank to mobilize and warns: " Without a truce, it is impossible to free the vegetables ."
The situation in the Middle East is therefore worsening by the hour, with even Saudi Arabia warning Washington that the invasion of Gaza could have "catastrophic consequences".
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres raises the alarm : «The humanitarian system in Gaza is facing total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians. Given the desperate and dramatic situation, the United Nations will not be able to continue providing aid inside Gaza without an immediate and fundamental change in the way aid is delivered. Everyone must assume their own responsibilities. This is the moment of truth, history judges us all."
The UN General Assembly itself approved the draft resolution presented by Jordan on behalf of the Arab states to ask for a truce in Gaza , guaranteeing the entry of aid and preventing forced displacement.
However, the amendment proposed by Canada (with the support of the USA) to "unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas" on 7 October was rejected.
88 countries voted in favour, 55 against and 23 abstained, but a two-thirds majority present and voting was needed to pass the motion.
WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, READ ALL THE ARTICLES
(Unioneonline/Ll.f.)
