Israel hit Gaza with more air strikes on Thursday after Hamas infiltrated and killed 1,400 people in its southern border areas on October 7.
Israeli tanks and infantry have been stationed near the Gaza border. Photo: Reuters
Israel's invasion of Gaza is approaching
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video of himself and his troops near the border. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters in Amman: “All the signs are that the worst is coming.”
US President Joe Biden briefly visited Israel on Wednesday amid turmoil following a hospital explosion in Gaza that Palestinians blamed on an Israeli airstrike, but Israel said was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian militants.
Later, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also visited to show Western support for the fight against Hamas. Mr Sunak also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the conflict.
Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza late on Tuesday, but US and Israeli sources put the death toll at less.
Biden had limited success in his efforts to get aid into Gaza during his trip, allowing 20 trucks to cross the Egyptian border into Gaza. Two Egyptian security sources said equipment was sent through the border crossing on Thursday to repair roads on the Gaza side. More than 100 trucks are now waiting in Egypt.
The crossing has been closed since the early days of the conflict and Israeli bombing. Newly appointed US special envoy for Middle East humanitarian affairs David Satterfield is still meeting with Israeli and Egyptian officials to discuss further humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Violence escalates on Lebanon-West Bank border
In another development that threatens to escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group fired another rocket at an Israeli position in the village of Manara on Thursday. Israel then responded with heavy shelling, triggering the worst border violence in 17 years.
The Israeli military said at least 20 rockets and an anti-tank missile were fired from Lebanon. Lebanese security sources and UN peacekeepers said one Lebanese civilian was killed in the area.
Israeli military vehicles have increased their activity in the West Bank amid increased violence. Photo: AP
Amid fears the West Bank could become a third front in a wider war, 12 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces at the Nur Shams refugee camp, the Palestinian Red Crescent said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hamas' armed wing spokesman Abu Obeida called for anti-Israel protests across Arab and Muslim countries on Friday and said the group was prepared for a long-term battle with Israel.
To date, according to Palestinian health officials, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to more than 3,500 people, with more than 12,000 others injured.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN, AP)
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