Israel escalates war in Gaza

Israeli tanks near the Gaza border on October 28.

Israel increases troops in Gaza

Along with the aerial bombing campaign, the Israeli army yesterday, October 29, announced that it had increased its troop numbers and penetrated deeper into Gaza, and released videos showing Merkava tank convoys fighting in the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the evening of October 28 (local time) that the second phase of the war against Hamas had begun with the ground offensive expanding into the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of Israel . Speaking alongside ministers in the war cabinet, Netanyahu stressed that the goal of the campaign was to "destroy Hamas's administrative and military capabilities and bring the hostages home." Although the war was predicted to be "long and difficult," Netanyahu declared that Israel was determined to complete it because Hamas was a threat to the country's existence.

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As it pounded Hamas positions, the Israeli army warned that all residential areas of Gaza were now a "battlefield" and urged residents to immediately move south, where aid was being delivered. But Palestinians said even the south was no longer safe, with many homes in densely populated areas bombed. Since Hamas's offensive on Israeli territory killed at least 1,400 people on October 7, Israel's retaliatory bombardment has killed more than 8,000 Palestinians, AFP reported, citing Gaza's health ministry.

Concerns about negotiating

Israel's escalation of hostilities inside the Gaza Strip has raised concerns about the fate of at least 230 hostages held by Palestinian militants. Despite Israeli leaders' efforts to reassure them, Qatar's foreign ministry warned yesterday that Israel's escalation had made negotiations to free the hostages "significantly more difficult". In his first public comments since the start of the fighting, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said his group was ready to release all hostages if Israel did the same for all Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli tanks raid Gaza in this still image from video released by the Israeli military

At a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu on October 28, the hostages' families also urged the leader to accept this option. In a press conference later, Netanyahu only said that this option was being considered but did not specify whether Israel would implement it. "We will use all our capabilities to bring them home," Netanyahu declared.

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Former Mossad intelligence chief Yossi Cohen said Israel could negotiate the release of hostages while also launching an offensive to destroy Hamas, but Reuters reported that Qatar-brokered negotiations had "slowed down significantly" since Israel escalated. European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on October 28 called for a "halt in hostilities" to pave the way for humanitarian aid. However, the comment was immediately criticized by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg because it went beyond the stance previously agreed by EU leaders, according to AFP.

In a report yesterday, the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that "civil order" in Gaza was beginning to break down as thousands of people stormed warehouses to steal food and other essentials.

Billionaire Elon Musk argues with Israeli minister

After the internet was reported to be completely cut off in Gaza since late October 27, billionaire Elon Musk said his Starlink satellite system specializing in internet broadcasting will support connectivity for internationally recognized relief organizations there, according to AFP.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi later said he would do everything he could to block Musk's efforts, fearing that Hamas would use the internet for militant activities. In response, the American billionaire said he was not "naive" and said he would conduct security checks with the US and Israeli governments before granting access, to ensure that Starlink would only be used for humanitarian purposes. As of yesterday, Palestinian media reported that phone and internet signals in Gaza had gradually been restored.

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