Israeli Ground Troops Encircle Gaza City as US Urges Caution
Gaza City, Nov 3: Israeli ground troops encircled the Hamas stronghold of Gaza City on Friday, marking a significant development in the month-long war against the Palestinian militant group. The move came following a call from the United States for “concrete steps” to minimize civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.
In a campaign speech delivered in Minneapolis, U.S. President Joe Biden called for a “pause” in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, marking a notable shift in his stance on the situation.
The president was addressing a gathering of around 200 people when he was interrupted by a woman who identified herself as a rabbi and implored him to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Ahead of the scheduled visit of top US diplomat Antony Blinken to Israel, the Israeli military declared that they had “completed the encirclement” of Gaza’s largest city, signaling a new phase in the conflict.
Also Read: Biden Calls for “Pause” in Gaza, Israel-Hamas War Day 27
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also acknowledged progress in the operation, despite “painful losses,” during a meeting with elite soldiers near Tel Aviv.
He asserted, “We are in the midst of the campaign. We have very impressive successes. We are already more than on the outskirts of Gaza City. We are advancing.”
Gaza City is described by the Israeli military as “the center of the Hamas terror organization.” However, it is also home to approximately half a million Palestinian civilians who have been enduring weeks of relentless aerial bombardments, dwindling supplies, and daily casualties.
Displaced residents seeking shelter from Israeli strikes outside Gaza City’s Al-Quds hospital expressed their fear and desperation, with one resident, 50-year-old Hiyam Shamlakh, stating, “This is not a life. We need a safe place for our kids. Everybody is terrified, children, women, and the elderly.”
The conflict is now transitioning to urban and underground warfare, with Hamas fighters utilizing a tunnel complex believed to span hundreds of kilometers.
A recent video posted by Hamas illustrated the destructive capabilities of their underground network, showing a gunman seemingly emerging from a tunnel to plant an explosive near an unsuspecting Israeli tank.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warned that invading Israeli soldiers would return “in black bags” and declared, “Gaza will be the curse of history for Israel.”
Also Read: Who Can Leave Gaza Through Rafah Crossing? ‘about 7,000 foreigners’
The conflict has been ongoing for nearly a month, with Hamas launching deadly raids into Israel, resulting in an estimated 1,400 casualties. The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, reports that more than 9,000 people, primarily women and children, have died in Israeli bombardments.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, departing from the United States, expressed his intention to urge Israel to take measures to protect civilians.
He stated, “We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to men, women, and children in Gaza.”
However, both the United States and Israel have ruled out a blanket ceasefire, fearing it would allow Hamas to regroup and resupply. US President Joe Biden has endorsed “temporary, localized” pauses in fighting to facilitate humanitarian efforts.
Recent Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp north of Gaza City have drawn international attention and condemnation. The United Nations rights monitors warned that such bombings of densely populated residential areas “could amount to war crimes.”
As the conflict continues to escalate, countries around the world have recalled their ambassadors from Israel in protest, and Bolivia has severed diplomatic ties with Israel.
In the midst of this ongoing crisis, civilians continue to suffer, and the international community watches with growing concern as the region grapples with the devastating consequences of this protracted conflict.
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