The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is readying for a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip this weekend, in retaliation for the unprecedented land-sea-air offensive by the Hamas Islamist movement that killed more than 1,300 people in Israel last weekend.
Israel – along with the combined might of its army and air force – has called up 300,000 reservists to carry out what Mr Netanyahu has said will be a mission to reduce Gaza to rubble. But the planned ground offensive did not begin until early on 15 October.
It was delayed “by at least several days” in part due to weather conditions that made it more difficult for Israeli pilots and drone operators to provide air cover to ground forces, the New York Times reported, citing senior IDF officers.
As Israel continues airstrikes on Hamas-linked sites in Gaza, Iran has warned of “serious consequences” if the bombardment does not stop.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, during a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha (Qatar) late on July 14, said Tehran had proposed an urgent meeting with foreign ministers of all Muslim countries to discuss ways to stop Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinians have fled to the southern Gaza Strip after the Israeli military issued a 24-hour evacuation warning from the northern part of the strip. Photo: AP/SCMP
Israel has subjected Gaza to the heaviest bombardment in its history, leaving the narrow coastal strip of land, home to 2.3 million people, completely sealed off and much of its infrastructure destroyed.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 2,329 people in Gaza have been killed since the latest fighting began, making it the bloodiest of the five Gaza wars for Palestinians.
According to UN figures, the death toll as of October 15 has surpassed that of the third war between Israel and Hamas in the summer of 2014, when 2,251 Palestinians, including 1,462 civilians, were killed.
The Jewish state also faces the possibility of a separate war at the other end of the country, on its northern border with Lebanon, following an artillery exchange with the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah force.
Hezbollah Deputy Leader Naim Qassem said the group was “fully prepared” to join Hamas in its fight against Israel.
“We, as Hezbollah, are contributing to the confrontation and will (continue) to contribute to that confrontation in our vision and plans,” AFP news agency quoted Mr. Qassem as saying at a pro-Palestinian rally in the Lebanese capital Beirut .
Minh Duc (According to NDTV, AP)
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