In Israel, “preparations for the next phase of the war” are not underway, which, according to Tel Aviv’s plans, should also include the “land operation” in the Gaza Strip. According to Israel’s previous information, this is a massive attack. “Plans to expand operational activities have been approved,” the Jewish country’s military spokesman announced, adding that “the troops, both military and reservists, are deployed in the field and are being trained in accordance with the approved operational plans.” Hamas said the possible attack was closely linked to the fate of the hostages. In fact, the Islamic group has no intention of releasing the detained civilians until Tel Aviv stops bombing the Gaza Strip. “As long as the enemy’s aggression is ongoing, we will not discuss it.” Osama Hamden, Hamas representative in Beirut, told ANSA, threatening Israel: “The resistance is prepared for any scenario.” What they suffered on October 7th will be nothing compared to what they will suffer.”
Mediation between Egypt and Qatar: “We want to close the hostage case”
However, this does not mean that progress has been made, at least potentially, with regard to the situation of the civilian population. In fact, thanks to the Arab mediating countries “Egypt and Qatar,” there will be “ongoing contacts” for the release of the civilian hostages currently in the hands of Hamas, Hamdan said. “We want to close the file of civilian hostages as quickly as possible.” “We are working with all mediators to close the file of civilians as soon as the security conditions are appropriate,” affirmed Hamdan, who has no doubt who is responsible for the is responsible for the situation that has arisen. “Israel is responsible for the safety of the hostages in the Gaza Strip.” And again: “In view of the incessant fascist bombardment of the Gaza Strip, we hold the (Israeli) occupation responsible for the safety of the civilian population,” Hamdan said.
Help at the Rafah border crossing
Meanwhile, at around 4 p.m. Italian time, the Rafah border crossing was closed after allowing the transshipment of goods bound for Gaza, which were transferred from 20 Egyptian double-container trucks to 30 trucks already on the Palestinian side of the border crossing. As expected, no people were allowed to pass through. Aid will now be split between aid going to UNRWA (the UN refugee agency) and aid destined for the Palestinian Red Crescent. But the head of Hamas’ communications office, Salama Maruf, warned in a statement quoted by media: “This limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe that the Gaza Strip is experiencing.” According to Maruf, “it is important to establish a safe corridor, “operating 24 hours a day to meet humanitarian needs and essential services that no longer exist.” And to give the wounded the opportunity to receive treatment.”
Witness the moment the first Red Crescent trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egypt enter the besieged Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.
Al Jazeera’s @baysontheroad says it was assumed that the 20 trucks only had medicine and food, no water or fuel ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/m5D63QSxq3
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 21, 2023
After receiving an Israeli warning, the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) has deemed many of its schools where Palestinians have sought refuge in Gaza City no longer safe. “We did what we could to protest and oppose this decision, but the bottom line is that our infrastructure will no longer be safe from now on,” the agency wrote in a press release, calling for an “immediate” evacuation. At the same time, the Palestinian Red Crescent condemned a threat “by the occupying authorities (Israel, editor’s note) to attack the Al-Quds Hospital” in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Rafah border crossing opened at 10 a.m. and the first humanitarian convoys are passing through.
The message
A facility where over “400 patients” were hospitalized, they wrote in a note, and where “over 12,000 displaced civilians and medical personnel” found refuge. While appealing to the international community for immediate and urgent assistance, the US Embassy in Israel had announced that “the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open today, Saturday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m. local time (9:00 a.m. in Italy).” . This is what the diplomatic headquarters writes in a statement in which it also warns that “many people will attempt to cross the border, and US citizens who want to enter Egypt will have to deal with a situation of chaos and disorder on both sides calculate”.
“Over 7,000 rockets were fired by Hamas”
The Israeli army, meanwhile, has revealed that nearly 7,000 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel in the Hamas attack last October. According to the army, around 450 of them fell within the Gaza Strip. The army also claims that in the two weeks since the attack, over a thousand “terrorists have been neutralized, many of them after infiltrating Israel.” “Dozens – he added – Hamas terrorist leaders have been eliminated.” Casualties continue on both fronts: Omer Balva, reservist of the Alexandroni Brigade, was killed yesterday by an anti-tank missile near Margaliot in northern Israel, on the border with Lebanon. Three other reservists were injured. Israeli media reported on this.
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