Israel Commits Massacres in Gaza, Announces Expansion of Ground Operations
Death Toll Surpasses 600 Amid Intensified Bombardment and Ground Operations; Hamas Responds with Rocket Fire on Tel Aviv.
Watan-The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation army in the Gaza Strip yesterday, Thursday—and as of the time of writing—has exceeded 100, most of them civilians, including many women and children who were crushed in their tents or beneath collapsing homes reduced once again to rubble by Israeli fire.
This marks the second day of a new chapter in Israel’s war of extermination, launched this past Tuesday. Since then, the death toll of Palestinians has risen to over 600, amid great difficulty in counting the victims still buried under the rubble. Meanwhile, the wounded continue to die due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, which is under siege and facing systematic starvation, with no meaningful aid having entered the Strip since the beginning of the month.
The Israeli army announced Thursday evening that it had begun a ground operation in the Al-Shaboura area of Rafah in southern Gaza and expanded its military operations in the south, while continuing its assault on central and northern parts of the Strip.
Hamas Fires Rockets at Tel Aviv Amid Global Calls to End Gaza Assault
In response to the Israeli massacres, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas said its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, fired a rocket barrage at Tel Aviv.
The rocket fire temporarily suspended all takeoff and landing operations at Ben Gurion Airport, with several planes circling in the air awaiting clearance to land or take off during the attack.
Hamas issued a statement urging Arab and Islamic countries to take urgent action in international forums, especially the UN Security Council, to push for immediate measures to stop the aggression and genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
In an earlier statement, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said that negotiations with mediators are ongoing to stop the aggression and pressure the occupation to abide by agreements and abandon its current plans.
Meanwhile, as Israel continues its war of extermination against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the UN Security Council on Thursday discussed the issue of the Israeli captives held by resistance factions in the Gaza Strip.
This comes amid ongoing international condemnation from governments and states over Israel’s war crimes, which continue without accountability or concern for consequences.
Regional and Global Leaders Urge Ceasefire, Condemn Gaza Massacres
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty, in a phone call, stressed the need to intensify joint efforts to resume implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza in its three phases.
They also emphasized the importance of coordinating their countries’ positions to support the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and the reconstruction of Gaza, in addition to the Cairo International Conference for the Reconstruction of the Strip, according to the statement.
Also reacting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: “Those who remain silent in the face of the massacre committed by Israel in Gaza will be held accountable before history and human conscience.”
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said that Europe must say “enough” to the ongoing Israeli massacre in the Gaza Strip.
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, saying that the war in Gaza cannot continue while ignoring the suffering of the families of Israeli captives held in the Strip.
