The ground offensive in Gaza City has begun – the Israeli army confirmed this after massive attacks were reported overnight. Fear is growing among the hostages' relatives. They are making serious accusations against Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The Israeli military has confirmed the start of the ground offensive in Gaza City. Following instructions from the political leadership, Israeli troops have"expanded the ground operation into the Hamas stronghold, Gaza City," a spokesman told reporters. It is a"phased maneuver" involving air and ground forces.
According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously said that Israel had"begun an intensive operation in Gaza City."
The aim is to eliminate Hamas forces in the area, the spokesman said. The terrorist militia maintains an extensive underground tunnel network beneath the city. Israel estimates that there are up to 3,000 combat-ready Hamas members in Gaza City.
The spokesman said everything possible would be done to ensure the safety of the remaining hostages and civilians in Gaza. According to Israeli military information, around 40 percent of the civilians – more than 350,000 people – have already left the city. In addition to the operational plan, there is also a plan for the humanitarian assistance of the civilian population.
Impact on the humanitarian situation
International aid organizations have repeatedly warned of a worsening of the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Bente Scheller, Middle East expert at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, also assesses the impact of the offensive on the civilian population as dramatic. In an interview with tagesschau24, she explained that the situation was already inhumane before the recent attacks. Now, the shortages of water, food, and medicine will become even more severe. Furthermore, people have no safe place to flee to, Scheller added.
In light of the Israeli army's latest offensive, the European Union called for an end to the"cycle of violence, destruction, and suffering." "Military intervention will lead to more destruction, more death, and more displacement," said a spokesperson for the EU Commission in Brussels. It would also"exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and endanger the lives of the hostages," he added.
Katz: "Gaza is burning"
During the night, Israel's military massively intensified its attacks on Gaza City."Gaza is burning," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on Telegram."We will not let up and we will not retreat—until the mission is complete."
According to Palestinian media reports, tanks entered the city. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli warplanes carried out almost continuous, heavy attacks on the city, located in the north of the Gaza Strip, throughout the night, accompanied by artillery fire. Numerous casualties were reported.
Eyewitnesses reported that houses were destroyed and residents were buried under the rubble. According to Israeli media reports, the heavy explosions in the northern Gaza Strip were also heard in Israel.
Shortly before, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had expressed doubts about whether the Gaza war could be ended diplomatically."So if it doesn't end that way, then it has to end through military action," he was quoted as saying after a conversation with US broadcaster Fox News during his stay in Israel. He believes that Israel itself does not prefer that path.
Harsh words from Egypt to Israel
Yesterday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi publicly referred to Israel as an"enemy" for the first time in decades. This was confirmed by the head of the State Information Service (SIS), Diaa Rashwan, on local television. In a speech on Monday at the Arab-Islamic summit in Qatar, al-Sisi emphasized that"the enemy" (referring to Israel) must recognize that the countries of the region are united in their position toward Israel and not divided. At the summit, Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip were again strongly condemned.
Representatives from around 60 Arab and Islamic countries met in Qatar on Monday to discuss the situation in the region. The reason for the meeting was Israel's attack on Hamas leadership in the Qatari capital, Doha, last week. Egypt and Qatar, along with the United States, are mediating in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip have made no progress for months.
Relatives:"Could be the last night for the hostages"
Meanwhile, the forum of relatives of the hostages held in Gaza expressed grave concern over reports that the city has begun to be taken over. After 710 nights in the hands of terrorists,"tonight could be the last night for the hostages," the forum said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is deliberately choosing"to sacrifice them for political reasons," completely ignoring the assessments of the Chief of Staff and the security authorities.
Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, on whom his political survival depends, oppose a ceasefire. The Israeli security cabinet approved the capture of Gaza in August. The Israeli military called on the city's residents to flee to so-called humanitarian zones further south in the coastal strip sealed off by Israel.
Hostages as human shields?
Israeli media, citing Palestinian sources, reported that Hamas had taken hostages from underground tunnels and taken them to houses and tents in the city to prevent the Israeli army from operating in certain areas. The mother of one abducted man said her son was being used as a human shield in Gaza.
There are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, of whom 20 are still alive according to Israeli information. Many of them are now in Gaza City, according to the statement from the relatives' forum. Prime Minister Netanyahu bears personal responsibility for the fate of the hostages."The Israeli people will not forgive the sacrifice of the hostages and soldiers," it continued.
