Israeli media reported that a decision was made to begin the IDF ground operation in the Gaza Strip after 00:00.
Prior to this, the IDF press service announced preparations for the expansion of the “Iron Swords” military operation, which would include “attacks from air, sea and land.” Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli army has carried out targeted raids in Gaza. Today, after Benjamin Netanyahu visited the settlements of Be’eri and Kfar Azavisil, which suffered from attacks by militants, and spoke with the military, large-scale attacks were carried out on the group’s targets in the sector.
Earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had a telephone conversation with American leader Joe Biden and expressed his position on Israel’s call to move 1.1 million Palestinians from Gaza to the south of the country in connection with the planned IDF ground operation.
As follows from a document published by the Palestinian leadership, Abbas announced “a complete refusal to move the population of the Gaza Strip from their land.” He also stressed the need to urgently open humanitarian corridors, provide Gaza residents with water and medicine, as well as restore the supply of electricity and fuel to the region. At the same time, he condemned violence against civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians.
According to Abbas, peace in the region is only possible through “only by granting the Palestinian people their full legitimate rights” and implementing a two-state solution “based on the resolutions of international law.”
Meanwhile, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, wrote on social networks that “the order to evacuate one million people from the north of the Gaza Strip must be seriously reconsidered” and “all hostages in Gaza must be released.” According to Boller, civilians should not be used as “human shields” by Hamas militants.
In Israel itself there are protests demanding the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
