ISRAEL/GAZA: Early on Monday, Israel bombarded Gaza with air strikes, and its aircraft hit southern Lebanon overnight as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gathered a meeting of his top generals and war cabinet to evaluate the escalating conflict.
Palestinian media reported that Israel’s attacks were mostly focused on the north and centre of the Gaza Strip. An airstrike near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza resulted in casualties, with multiple Palestinians killed and others wounded, as per media reports.
According to health authorities in Gaza, Israel’s two-week bombardment, initiated after a Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7 that resulted in 1,400 casualties and 212 people being taken into Gaza as hostages, led to a reported death toll of at least 4,600 in Gaza.
Hamas stated that Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed ways to halt what they referred to as “Israel’s brutal actions” in Gaza during a call on Sunday.
Israel has gathered tanks and troops near the fenced border surrounding Gaza with the intention of launching a ground invasion aimed at eliminating Hamas.
Fears that the Israel-Hamas battle could escalate into a larger Middle East conflict increased over the weekend, with Washington announcing a new deployment of advanced air defences and warning of a serious risk to U.S. interests in the region.
The Pentagon has already sent a substantial naval presence to the Middle East, which includes two aircraft carriers, support vessels, and approximately 2,000 Marines. This deployment is intended to deter potential attacks by groups affiliated with Iran.
Speaking to ABC’s “This Week” programme on Sunday, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, “What we’re seeing… is the prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops and our people throughout the region.”
Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, issued a warning on Monday, according to Chinese official media, stating that there was an increasing likelihood of a large-scale ground battle and that spillover conflicts were “worrisome” in the region.
In neighbouring Syria, where Hamas’ major regional supporter, Iran, has a military presence, Israeli missiles struck both Damascus and Aleppo international airports early on Sunday. These attacks resulted in the suspension of airport operations and the unfortunate loss of two workers, according to Syrian state media.
On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, there have been clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which is supporting Hamas. This marks the most serious escalation of violence along the border since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006.
On Monday, Israeli military aircraft targeted two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon, which were reportedly planning to launch anti-tank missiles and rockets towards Israel. Israel’s military also reported striking other Hezbollah targets, including a compound and an observation post.
Hezbollah stated on Monday that one of its fighters had been killed, though specific details were not provided.
As a result of the escalating violence along its heavily guarded borders, Israel expanded its evacuation contingency plan to include 14 communities in close proximity to Lebanon and Syria in the northern part of the country.
Additional assistance arrives in Gaza
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has urged the international community to unite in order to halt Israel’s attacks in Gaza and facilitate the much-needed humanitarian assistance, which has only begun to make its way into the region.
On Sunday night, a second convoy consisting of 14 aid trucks crossed into the besieged Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing. The White House confirmed that U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed ensuring a continuous flow of critical aid into Gaza.
The United Nations’ humanitarian office reported that the amount of aid that has entered Gaza so far represents only 4% of the daily average before the hostilities, falling significantly short of the essential supplies required, including food, water, medicine, and fuel.
Biden has intensified his diplomatic efforts, engaging in conversations on Sunday with leaders including Netanyahu, Pope Francis, and the heads of Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Britain. The focus of these discussions is to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza and prevent the conflict from spreading further.
The leaders endorsed Israel’s right to self-defence in a unified statement. They also demanded respect for international humanitarian law, which covers protecting civilians.
Netanyahu’s office also stated that the Israeli leader engaged in phone conversations with the leaders of France, Spain, and the Netherlands late on Sunday.
On Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Israel, while French President Emmanuel Macron is planning a visit on Tuesday.
Also Read: Biden En Route to Israel after Gaza Hospital Strike Took Hundreds of Lives
