Gaza goes dark amid threat of imminent Israeli ground incursion

Fifth day of conflict between Israel and Hamasin which they have already died 1,100 people in Palestine and others 1,200 in Israelwith the number of injuries skyrocketing above the 8,000 adding both parts (5,300 Palestinians and 3,192 Israelis).

Israel already has everything ready to enter Gaza, with 300,000 soldiers ready to face a land incursion that increasingly seems more inevitable. “We started the offensive from the air, Later we will also do it from the ground. We controlled the area since day two and we are on the offensive. It will only intensify,” said the Israeli Defense Minister, who this Wednesday became part of Netanyahu’s new emergency government.

As the Israeli Prime Minister suggested from the beginning, today’s day leaves a new Executive in the countrya Government in which Netanyahu joins Beny Gant to formalize an agreement that establishes that bills cannot be promoted or government decisions made that are not linked to the conflict with the militias.

It is those three protagonists – Netanyahu, Gantz and Gallant – who will make the big decisions regarding the response to Hamas, which NATO hopes will be “provided“, in the words of its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg. It is the political part of a conflict that today is a little darker than yesterday, literally and figuratively.

During this day, the Gaza Strip has been left without electricity. The authorities have reported that the only power plant in the Palestinian enclave is running out of fuel due to Israel’s blockade. This will make it impossible to establish the most basic services for more than two million people.

The Gaza Ministry of Health has put in place procedures to “ration” the “limited power of electric generators” towards the emergency services, a desperate measure in the face of a blockade that only seems to get worse.

Spanish Maya Villalobo dies in Hamas attacks

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported the death of the Spanish-Israeli citizen Maya Villalobo Sinvanymissing since last Saturday at the beginning of the Hamas attacks on Israel.

The Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has regretted this “bad news”: “I have conveyed my condolences to his father on behalf of the entire Government and that we are very close to him.” The president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezhas also been “dismayed” by the death of the young woman, aged 19.

Her family has issued a statement in which they remember Maya as “a happy girl full of love“. “We want to thank those who have been attentive to her, especially family and friends. Thank you with all my heart,” they add.

False alarm in Israel

Meanwhile, Israel ordered its citizens in northern areas to seek refuge following warnings of an alleged air attack from Lebanon that did not arrive. Finally, there were no “impacts”, as reported by a spokesperson for the Israeli Army.

There were sirens in the Golan Heights area, in the north of Israel and bordering Lebanon and Syria, as well as in Safed or Tiberias.

Yes, there has been anti-tank missile launch from Lebanon against an Israeli military post in the vicinity of Arab al Aramshe, near the Lebanese border, which has caused no injuries.

The Arab League speaks

An emergency meeting of the Arab League Council also took place this Wednesday, which has called for an “immediate ceasefire” between Israel and Hamasshowing their rejection of the “killing of civilians” that this conflict is entailing.

“The retaliation carried out against the residents of Gaza following a policy of collective punishment is contrary to international law and will not bring the desired security“said the spokesperson.

At this meeting, the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajaniand the head of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergiswho consider it necessary to “give protection to the Palestinians” and investigate the causes of a war that deepens its terror every day.