Hamas’ deadliest attack triggers massive retaliatory campaign; Concerns rise over humanitarian crisis
Gaza, October 15, 2023 – Israel continued its preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza on Sunday after allowing Palestinians some time to evacuate northern areas targeted in response to a deadly attack. Hamas fighters were responsible for the attack, likened by Israel to 9/11 in the United States, which resulted in over 1,300 casualties. In retaliation, Israel launched a massive bombing campaign against the Islamist group, causing over 2,200 casualties in Gaza.
Around 1.1 million Gazans residing in the northern part of the territory had been warned to move south in anticipation of the impending ground incursion, with a focus on Gaza City, the Hamas leadership’s base. While the military emphasized the urgency of the evacuation, a spokesperson stated on Saturday that residents still had time to leave before the ground offensive commenced.
In the face of the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt, thousands of Gazans have packed their belongings and embarked on a challenging journey southward, traversing rubble-strewn streets in a variety of vehicles.
Escalation of Violence
On Saturday, Israel conducted fresh air strikes in northern Gaza, further escalating the conflict. Troops fired upon the densely populated area, resulting in massive plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.
The Israeli military reported the discovery of hostages abducted by Hamas during its operations inside Gaza. Hamas had previously indicated that 22 hostages were killed in Israeli bombardments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to troops on the border front line raised expectations of an imminent ground invasion. “Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming,” he stated while talking to several soldiers in a video released by his office.
In an effort to prevent the conflict from escalating into a regional crisis, the United States deployed a second aircraft carrier to deter hostile actions against Israel, according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Humanitarian Crisis Looms
Concerns have grown regarding the fate of Palestinian civilians in densely populated Gaza, where intense urban combat and house-to-house fighting could become a reality. Aid agencies have stressed that forcing Gazans to move amid the ongoing war is a nearly impossible task.
The lack of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies due to the Israeli blockade has led to warnings of a deepening humanitarian crisis. “The situation is catastrophic,” said Jumaa Nasser, a resident of northern Gaza. He expressed the difficulties of the situation and the uncertainty about what to do, given the lack of essential supplies.
The World Health Organization cautioned that forcing thousands of hospital patients to evacuate to already overcrowded hospitals in southern Gaza could be a “death sentence.”
International Diplomatic Efforts
Exiled Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of “war crimes” in Gaza but ruled out any “displacement” of Gazans, including to Egypt. Hamas has been accused by Israel of using civilians as human shields.
Chinese envoy Zhai Jun is set to visit the Middle East to push for a ceasefire and peace talks, while Saudi Arabia has called for an “immediate ceasefire.” Russia has submitted a ceasefire resolution to the UN Security Council for a vote on Monday.
In a call on Saturday, US President Joe Biden assured Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States was working with various stakeholders in the region to ensure access to water, food, and medical care for innocent civilians. Biden also spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and pledged “full support” to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.
Growing Concerns
Reports emerged of several people being killed in an Israeli bombardment while heading south on Saturday, though these claims could not be immediately confirmed.
International aid agencies, including the UN and Red Cross, along with foreign diplomats, are concerned about the feasibility of the evacuation plan. More than 423,000 Palestinians have already left their homes, and 5,540 homes have been destroyed, according to the United Nations.
Israeli Stance
Israel has maintained its commitment to destroying Hamas, which it has compared to the Islamic State group, while emphasizing that ordinary Palestinians are not their targets. The recent Hamas attack and the ensuing conflict have disrupted Middle Eastern politics, raising concerns about the potential spread of violence in the volatile region.
Protests condemning Israel and supporting the Palestinians in Gaza have taken place across the Arab world and in Western capitals, including London and Washington.
Northern Border Threat
Israel also faces the possibility of a separate confrontation on its northern border with Lebanon, marked by recent artillery exchanges with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. A video journalist was killed in shelling, and several reporters were wounded, with two Lebanese civilians losing their lives in Israeli shelling of a southern village. Hezbollah reported the death of one of its fighters due to Israeli fire.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari warned that the army has significant forces in the north and cautioned against any attempts to infiltrate Israel.
As the threat of an Israeli ground invasion looms, concerns grow for the safety of the 150 hostages, including foreigners, seized by Hamas during their deadly rampage. Hamas has threatened to kill the hostages one by one for each unannounced Israeli air strike. Israel’s army has made contact with the families of 120 civilians currently held and urged the transfer of medicines to the captives as soon as possible.