Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)
Israel has intensified its aerial bombardment of Palestinian-controlled Gaza, while massing military tanks and artillery around the Strip in preparation for a ground invasion.
Nearly 1,200 people have now been killed in air strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. Most of those killed are believed to be civilians caught in the crossfire.
The relentless bombardment of Gaza is a retaliatory move from Israel, after the Hamas militant group made an unprecedented and coordinated ground, air and sea incursion into Israeli territory on Saturday.
About 1,500 Hamas militants had infiltrated Israel and now hold more than 200 Israelis hostage.
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The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said Hamas is holding these hostages underground in scattered areas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war on Hamas after the infiltration and promised that the group would be annihilated “because they are worse than ISIS”.
US STANDS WITH ISRAEL
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A blockade of Gaza ensued in the wake of the infiltration, with Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, announcing that there “will be no food, electricity and fuel” into Gaza “until Hamas has been crushed” and all hostages freed.
On Wednesday, Israel set up an emergency wartime government incorporating leaders of the opposition.
In a televised address, Netanyahu said Hamas militants had shot children in the head, burned people alive, raped women and beheaded soldiers.
“Every Hamas member is a dead man. We will crush and destroy Hamas,” Netanyahu repeated.
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US President Joe Biden has reiterated that “the United States stands with Israel”.
“We will make sure they (Israel) have what they need to take care of their citizens. There is no justification for terrorism,” Biden said on Wednesday.
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