Israel is preparing to launch a “total offensive” against the Gaza Strip in the next few hours in response to bloody Hamas attacks on its territory. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated this this evening in an address to troops preparing for the delicate operation. “I have eased all restrictions and we have regained control of the territory,” Gallant said, adding that “Hamas will pay the price” for its terrorist gamble by “changing the reality in Gaza.” Furthermore, “Gaza will never return to what it was before,” because “whoever comes to behead, kill, women and Holocaust survivors, we will eliminate them with all our might and without compromise.”
The destination is Ashkelon
Shortly after the expiration of the ultimatum issued by Hamas, a hail of rockets broke out, with one of the rockets fired from Gaza hitting the Hotel Regina in Ashkelon, from which columns of smoke could be seen near the port, according to Israeli media. In Italy, Hamas had set the maximum limit for leaving the city in southern Israel, 40 km north of the Gaza Strip, at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m. The terrorist group’s spokesman, Abu Obeida, then appealed to Palestinians, including in the West Bank, as well as to Arab nations and all Muslims, “to march towards the borders of occupied Palestine in solidarity with Palestine, Jerusalem and Turkey.” Al- Aqsa Mosque.” A call to participate in the Friday of mobilization and protest (called Al-Aqsa Flood Friday) after “the historic results achieved by the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation with Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” . The goal – according to Hamas – is “to support the resistance, thwart Israeli plans and defend Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Clashes on the border with Lebanon
According to an Israeli military spokesman, at least 15 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel. Four of them were intercepted and others fell in open areas. According to the Hetzbollah television channel Al Manar, Israeli artillery hit uninhabited forest areas.
The discovery of 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters
In the morning, Israeli forces confirmed the discovery of around 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants on Israeli territory. The Tel Aviv Defense Forces said they had largely restored control of the south of the country and “full control” of the border after the surprise attack. Meanwhile, a video posted by the Israeli military is circulating on social media in which a small group of armed men can be seen lying on the ground on the beach, identified, centered and neutralized. Nine seconds show a missile hitting the airframe directly and a cloud of smoke rising. The caption: “It was determined that this armed terrorist team from Gaza was about to kill Israeli civilians on Israeli territory. We made sure to stop them before they could attack our civilians.”
The consequences for the civilian population
Civilians are the ones who pay the highest price. First of all, the numbers show this: over 1,000 dead in Israel, more than 700 in the Gaza Strip. The issue of hostages brought to Gaza by Hamas, some 150 for Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, further complicates the situation. Also because Hamas – according to their statements – uses (or will use) civilians as weapons. And she is not prepared to compromise: “We will not hold any discussions about prisoners and hostages in the hands of the resistance forces until the end of the military operation,” says the message from Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Haaretz terrorist group. Gal Hirsch, a former special forces officer and retired general, will have to deal with them – writes Corriere della Sera. The Israeli government “is committed to fully clarifying the situation of the hostages held by Hamas,” Hirsch said, pledging to create an effective mechanism to help all families concerned about the fate of their loved ones.
On the other hand, the Gaza Strip is under a “total siege” imposed by Tel Aviv. In fact, the Israeli authorities have stopped deliveries of electricity, food and fuel from Israel to the Gaza Strip areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor inside and outside the enclave: “The WHO calls for an end to the violence.” “A humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with vital medical supplies,” said WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic at a press conference in Geneva. “Since the start of the current offensive – emphasizes Jasarevic – on October 9 at 4 p.m., there have been 13 confirmed attacks on the health system in the Gaza Strip.” The number amounts to “6 killed and 4 injured health workers, 9 ambulances and 8 health facilities are affected. “
Israel’s large-scale attacks on “Hamas targets” in Gaza have resumed, while sirens blare in Tel Aviv. A volley of rockets was fired from the Gaza Strip toward central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area where Ben-Gurion Airport is located. As the Israeli army intensifies its attacks on the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. In fact, an airstrike hit the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, leaving “a hole that hinders transit to and from the Egyptian side,” writes the Washington Post. The crossing in question was being repaired after an airstrike from Tel Aviv last night, Iyad al-Bazum, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry in the Gaza Strip, told Sky News Arabia.
The bombings that night
Around 200 targets were attacked by the Israeli Air Force in the Palestinian enclave overnight, after the terrorist group carried out an attack on Saturday October 7 that left at least 1,000 people dead. One of them – according to the New York Times – attacked and killed two important men in the ranks of the terrorist organization: Jawad Abu Shmala, Hamas’ finance minister, and Abu Ahmad Zakaria Muammer, a member of the political office. In order to end the terrorist group’s “control over Gaza”, the majority parties have also instructed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “form a national emergency government” with representatives of the current opposition. The Likud or Bibi’s party made this known. Even National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (of Jewish Power), who initially opposed it, eventually accepted the line.
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