The approximately 320 targets bombed by the Israeli army included “tunnels where Hamas terrorists were located,” “dozens of command centers” and “military camps and observation posts,” the military said on Monday.
Hamas said at least 70 people were killed in the new Israeli strikes. In total, more than 5,000 people were killed in Israeli attacks. The information could not be independently verified. As a spokeswoman for the UN Palestine Relief Agency (UNRWA) told dpa, at least 29 United Nations staff have been killed since the start of the war.
First field operations
Israel announced on Monday that several military units were already training for the planned ground offensive. Soldiers and commanders were “determined and highly motivated,” the military said. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Monday on ZIB2 that the planned ground offensive “will cost sweat, tears and blood,” “but we will win.” As this cannot be achieved just “from the air”, “we have to use ground troops”.
Former Israeli Prime Minister on the attack on Gaza
Israel began sending isolated ground troops into the Gaza Strip. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak commented on this on Monday on ZIB2.
Smaller Israeli units have already begun isolated operations in the Gaza Strip, among other things with the aim of freeing hostages. According to Israeli information, an Israeli soldier was killed and three others were injured in the Gaza Strip during one of these operations. Hamas also continued its bombings from the Gaza Strip on Monday. The Israeli army says it foiled an attack with two drones.
More hostages released
Hamas released two more hostages in the Gaza Strip on Monday, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A spokesman confirmed in Geneva that his organization supported the release and removed the two people from Palestinian territory on Monday night.
According to Israeli media reports, they are two older Israeli women. They were kidnapped in the city of Nir Os, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Both husbands remain in Hamas captivity. All four are between 80 and 85 years old.
AP/AP/Missing Families and Hostages Forum The two women were kidnapped in the border area. Now they have been released.
Hamas’ military wing had previously said it had released two more hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas, the release of the two women was brokered by Qatar and Egypt. The hostages were released “despite the crimes of the occupation” for “humanitarian reasons,” Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said on Telegram. Hamas also uses the release of hostages as a propaganda measure.
The Israeli government thanked Egypt and the Red Cross for their contribution to the liberation. The 79- and 85-year-old women were handed over to the Israeli army, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said late on Tuesday.
Clinical explosion: Hamas without evidence
Debates over who was responsible for the Gaza clinic explosion on October 17 continued. Immediately after the explosion, Hamas blamed Israel and spoke of hundreds of deaths. Neither has been proven. Israel, in turn, presented evidence that the explosion was caused by an Islamic organization.
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The New York Times wrote on Monday that Hamas has not yet been able to provide any evidence proving its guilt. Upon request, the terrorist organization stated that there were no traces of the ammunition that caused the explosion in the clinic or the fire in the parking lot in front of it. “The bullet dissolved like salt in water,” Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the newspaper. “It evaporated. There is nothing left.”
The British also now believe that the explosion was probably caused by a Palestinian rocket. The British government concluded, based on an analysis of British intelligence, that the detonation was “probably caused by a rocket or part of a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Parliament in London. Last week, French military intelligence also reached the same conclusion.
The third aid convoy arrived
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. On Monday, the third aid convoy arrived with trucks from Egypt to the south of the Gaza Strip. A good dozen trucks crossed the Rafah border crossing, the Egyptian Red Crescent humanitarian organization said. At the weekend, 34 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had already crossed the border.
However, according to UN estimates, at least a hundred trucks are needed every day to supply people in the Gaza Strip with essential goods. Urgently needed fuel has not yet been brought into Palestinian territory.
Without fuel, people in the Gaza Strip, including children and women, would continue to be “strangled”, said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. UNRWA reserves will be exhausted in the next three days. However, Israel claims that no fuel can be brought to the coastal strip because it could fall into the hands of Hamas.
Disunity in the EU
The European Union has so far played a subordinate role as a mediator in the conflict. Now, member states are unable to agree on a common course on the issue of a ceasefire. At the meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, countries such as Spain, Slovenia and Ireland supported UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
However, countries such as Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic did not want to join. “There will only be peace and security for Israel and the Palestinians if terrorism is combated,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. We can see that Hamas continues to heavily attack Israel with rockets. It is vital that Israel restores deterrence and that the EU strongly and resolutely supports the country’s right to self-defense.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, however, said of the fighting: “The suffering of innocent civilians, especially children, has reached a level that demands an immediate cessation.” A matter of extreme urgency.”
Summit seeks compromise
Discussions will likely continue on Thursday at the level of heads of state and government. It is unclear whether there will be a deal. In a draft statement closing the meeting, EU Council President Charles Michel suggests joining calls for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to allow safe access to aid for those in need.
The US has rejected calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. Such a ceasefire would give Hamas “the ability to rest, retool and prepare new terrorist attacks against Israel,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.