The Israel’s defence minister has said that his forces are preparing for a full attack on Gaza, as electricity in the Palestinian territory is about to run out and the internet has been all but cut.
Yoav Gallant, who just a few days ago announced a complete blockade of Gaza, said that the Israeli army had taken control of the border area of the Gaza Strip.
“I have lifted all restrictions,” said Yoav Gallant, adding “we have taken the region under control. Now we are launching a full attack.”
Gallant said Hamas “will regret its offensive” and Gaza “will never be the same.”
More than 1,900 people have been killed so far in the violence, including at least 900 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, according to authorities.
Israel has also cut water and electricity supplies to Gaza, worsening the blockaded enclave’s already dire humanitarian situation.
Home to nearly 2.2 million people, the Gaza Strip has already been reeling under a crippling Israeli siege since 2007.
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Here is an update on the main recent developments in a fast-moving story:
Fighting
The Israeli military said dozens of its fighter jets struck more than 200 targets overnight in a neighbourhood of Gaza City.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israeli strikes had since Saturday destroyed more than 22,600 residential units and 10 health facilities and damaged 48 schools.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa is reporting that Israeli forces dropped white phosphorus bombs on the al-Karama neighbourhood in Gaza earlier in the night.
Israeli occupation forces announced Tuesday that they are engaging in clashes with Palestinian fighters in the city of Ashkelon, Hebrew media reported.
At least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes, the UN humanitarian office said on Tuesday.
Israel has called up 300,000 reservists, as Israeli airlines added flights to bring reservists back to the country.
Lebanese group Hezbollah said it fired missiles against an Israeli military position earlier in the morning in response to the killing of three of its fighters.
The Israeli army has no information confirming allegations that “Hamas beheaded babies,” Israeli army spokesperson unit told Anadolu on Tuesday. It was alleged that Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, “beheaded many Israeli babies” on the Israeli side during the early Saturday morning attack launched from Gaza. When Anadolu contacted the Israeli army spokesperson unit over the phone and asked about the allegations, they said “We have seen the news, but we do not have any details or confirmation about that.”
Diplomacy
U.S. President Joe Biden called the attacks by Hamas “an act of sheer evil” and added that at least 14 Americans were killed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel on Thursday, in a show of solidarity.
Egypt is moving to prevent a mass exodus south from the Gaza Strip, as Israeli bombardments halted crossings.
European Union foreign ministers met to try to resolve divisions over whether to continue aid payments to Palestinians.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel was breaking international law by imposing a total blockade against the Gaza Strip in retaliation against the Hamas attack.
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran was not involved in the Hamas attack, though he “kissed the hands” of those doing damage to Israel.
Yemen’s Houthis rebels threatened to join the Hamas attack on Israel if the U.S. became directly involved in the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is blaming U.S. policy failures for the Israel-Hamas war.
Canada said Tuesday that it will continue to provide CAN$55 million ($40.5 million) in humanitarian and development aid to Palestinians while ensuring no funds are diverted to Hamas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday reiterated its call for an end to hostilities that are causing “untold suffering” in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Scotland’s first minister has issued a heartfelt plea urging the UK government to call for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict as well as a humanitarian corridor into the embattled Palestinian enclave.
