On October 30, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “A call for a ceasefire would be a call for Israel to surrender to Hamas. That will not happen. Just like the US would not agree to a ceasefire after the Pearl bombing.” Harbor or after the September 11 attacks. “Israel will not agree to a ceasefire with Hamas following the horrific attack on October 7.”
The Israeli leader confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were trying to prevent casualties among Palestinian civilians.
After a brief question-and-answer session with foreign journalists on October 30, Mr. Netanyahu also blamed Hamas for the rising number of deaths in the conflict. According to him, Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties in Gaza because the group fired into Israel, set up command centers in civilian areas and prevented people from evacuating.
Israeli soldiers drive tanks near Israel’s border with Gaza in southern Israel. Photo: Reuters
Firm reuters Citing multiple witnesses, Israeli armored forces attacked the Gaza Strip’s key northern city from two directions on 30 October, targeting the main road connecting the city to the south in an attempt to split the city.
According to the news agency AP, Israel has announced a new “phase” in the conflict with Hamas but has not announced a full-scale ground offensive. However, the Israeli military has been vague about its activities inside Gaza, including the location and number of troops.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari declined to comment on where Israeli forces were deployed. He said only that infantry, armoured, engineering and artillery units had entered Gaza, and that operations would continue to “expand and intensify”.
Major ground operations were launched north and east of Gaza City. Israel said Hamas forces and infrastructure were mostly in Gaza City.
The Israeli military said it had struck more than 600 Hamas targets in the past few days, including weapons depots and anti-tank missile launch sites.
Meanwhile, Hamas said the group repelled an attempt by Israeli tanks to attack Gaza from the east and is fighting alongside Israel in northern Gaza. Hamas also described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as a disaster.
Hamas has taken about 240 people hostage, including men, women and children.
Children evacuated after Israeli attack on Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters
The health authority in the Gaza Strip reported that the number of Palestinian deaths so far has reached more than 8,300, mainly women and children. Israeli officials say about 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the conflict.
In addition to the fighting, living conditions for civilians in Gaza continue to deteriorate.
AP Overcrowded hospitals in northern Gaza have been described as a danger. Health officials in the Gaza Strip shared a video showing an explosion and plumes of smoke near the Turkey-Palestine Friendship Hospital for cancer patients.
Without central power for weeks, hospitals are struggling to keep generators running to operate incubators and other life-saving equipment. The United Nations Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) tried to keep water pumps and bakeries running.
