Amid days of Israeli airstrikes following a cross-border attack by Hamas, signs indicate the Israeli army is preparing for a potential entry into Gaza.
On the eighth day of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, several developments suggest that the Israeli army is preparing to enter Gaza. As soldiers are deployed at the border, the Israeli army has announced plans for a large-scale attack by land, sea, and air with the goal of advancing deep into Gaza and reaching Hamas representatives.
The IDF chief spokesman restated the need for Gaza residents to evacuate to the south, while alluding to an imminent strike on Gaza City. However, the exact timing of the operation was not specified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also made a visit to the armed forces stationed outside the Gaza Strip. In a video broadcast during the late afternoon, he spoke to the soldiers: “Are you ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.”
Finally, Avigdor Lieberman is set to join the Israeli security cabinet, following an announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. This decision comes after former Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s party agreed earlier this week to form a unity government with Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition partners amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Israel has reported over 1,300 fatalities and more than 3,500 injuries, while on the Palestinian side, there are over 2,200 deaths and approximately 8,700 injuries.
International diplomacy in action
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken requested China’s assistance in reducing Middle East tensions, citing China’s ties with Iran. In response, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the U.S. to adopt a fair and objective role in addressing the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Read more
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia has suspended talks aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. Joost Hiltermann, the Middle East director of the International Crisis Group, asserts that there is no feasible way for any Arab country to seriously engage in discussions about normalizing relations with Israel, given the public’s perception of the situation in Gaza.
Read more
Trapped foreigners in Gaza
Foreign nationals are fleeing Israel and Gaza, seeking refuge through various routes.
An agreement involving Egypt, Israel, and the United States aimed to establish a designated passage, known as a ‘green corridor,’ for foreigners in Gaza. However, despite this agreement, the Rafah border crossing in Egypt remained closed. The shutdown of the crossing was due to Egypt’s requirement that foreign nationals could only depart if humanitarian aid entered Gaza, a condition Israel had not yet fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Cyprus is receiving hundreds of evacuees from Israel, with more than 2,000 expected in the coming days due to the escalating situation.
Read more
Katrine Dige Houmøller
