Tel Aviv: The Israeli military on Sunday stated that it is awaiting a “political decision” regarding the potential initiation of a ground attack into Gaza. This announcement followed the issuance of a three-hour evacuation deadline for residents in northern Gaza to relocate southward.
Senior military authorities have warned that the region will transform into an “active combat zone” once the operation is launched.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) earlier declared that they are prepared for a “coordinated” assault in the Gaza Strip, encompassing air, ground, and naval forces. This statement followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with soldiers near the Gaza border, where he affirmed, “more is coming.”
Meanwhile, the military reported that they killed Billal al-Qedra, a high-ranking commander of Hamas’s elite military wing, the Nukhba force, during their air raids in Gaza on Saturday night.
Large numbers of Palestinians continue to evacuate northern Gaza due to apprehensions of an Israeli ground offensive, resulting in a combined death toll surpassing 3,600.
Key Developments in Israel-Gaza War:
- The IDF issued a 3-hour evacuation notice for northern Gaza residents, urging them to move southward during a specified window to avoid military operations.
- The Israeli army is prepared for a coordinated attack on Gaza involving air, ground, and naval forces, with plans to deploy 10,000 troops for the capture of Gaza City. The offensive’s start date remains undisclosed.
- IDF reported the killing of Hamas commander Billal al-Qedra during air raids, noting the elimination of other operatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
- Iran warned of potential intervention and consequences if Israel persists with “war crimes and genocide” in Gaza.
- The US plans to send a second naval carrier strike group, USS Dwight D Eisenhower, to support Israel, in addition to USS Gerald R Ford already in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed gratitude to President Biden for US support, and the US State Department confirmed 29 American deaths in Israel.
- Palestinian casualties exceeded previous Gaza wars, with over 2,329 reported deaths. In Israel, more than 1,300 people were killed, and 3,227 were injured in Hamas attacks.
- Tens of thousands evacuated northern Gaza, anticipating an Israeli attack, with over 400,000 evacuees warned of the impending “active combat zone.”
- The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and the attack on Gaza.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought China’s assistance in preventing the spread of the Israel-Hamas conflict, urging China to use its influence in the Middle East to curb further involvement.