Israel steps up ground offensive in Gaza

Besieged residents of Gaza are facing a near-total communications and internet blackout as Israeli warplanes drop bombs and troops and armor advance into the Hamas-controlled territory. Israel has signaled it is preparing for a wide-ranging ground offensive.

An Israeli army M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzer fires towards Gaza on October 28. Photo: AFP

Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu warned Israelis were heading for a "long and difficult" campaign but stopped short of calling the current landings an act of aggression.

In that context, some aides to US President Joe Biden have advised their Israeli counterparts to pause an all-out attack, to have time to negotiate the hostage rescue.

Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged to do everything possible to free more than 200 hostages held by Hamas, including Americans and other foreigners. “This is the second phase of the war with a very clear objective – to destroy Hamas’ leadership and military power and bring the hostages home,” he said.

“We are just at the beginning. We will destroy the enemy on the ground and underground,” he declared. Israel has tightened its blockade and bombarded Gaza for the past three weeks since a devastating offensive by the Islamist group Hamas on October 7.

Western countries have generally supported what they see as Israel's right to self-defence. However, there has been a growing international outcry over the death toll from the bombing, and calls for a "humanitarian truce" to allow aid to reach Gazans and ease the humanitarian crisis. Health authorities in the Gaza Strip say 7,650 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli operation.

“Our people in the Gaza Strip are facing a genocide and massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces,” said President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority that governs part of the occupied West Bank.

The Gaza Strip is almost in ruins after the Israeli army's relentless bombardment and airstrikes. Photo: Getty

With many buildings reduced to rubble and shelter hard to come by, Gazans are running low on food, water, fuel and medicine. Their plight has worsened since Friday night when phone and internet services were cut off – followed by heavy bombing overnight.

Israel sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday evening, focusing on infrastructure, including a vast network of tunnels built by Hamas, the Israeli military said.

Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated Israel's call for Palestinian civilians to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip, where Israel is focusing its attacks on Hamas military bases and other facilities.

But Palestinians say nowhere is safe, as bombs have also destroyed many homes in the south of the narrow and densely populated territory.

“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The UN Security Council plans to continue meeting on Monday on the Israel-Gaza crisis, officials said.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, CNN, AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/israel-day-manh-chien-dich-tan-cong-tren-bo-o-gaza-cac-ben-keu-goi-dinh-chien-vi-nhan-dao-post270329.html