AGI – Un The second aid convoy with 17 trucks entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt today as Israel steps up its attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
Yesterday another 20 trucks entered Gaza. The United Nations They appreciated that Around 100 trucks are needed per day to meet the needs of 2.2 million residents of Gaza given the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the Number of refugees in the Gaza Strip he reached 1.4 million people. According to the ministry 685,000 refugees have moved to other families, 544,000 moved to UNRWA schools, around 100,000 to mosques and churches and around 70,000 to government schools.
Meanwhile, they carry on Israeli Army Updates At Hostages were captured by Hamas and held in Gaza: The latest data speaks of 212 people in the hands of the Palestinian fundamentalist organization (Yesterday Israel said it believed 210 people were detained).
The United Nations reiterates that the situation is catastrophic UNICEF reports that 1,661 children have been killed since October 7th.
That doesn’t exist yetIsraeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip what now seemed imminent, but thatThe army continues to prepare the ground. During the night, the Luftwaffe announced an intensification of attacks bombed the strip again it is finished “At least 55 dead,” said Hamas. But has The West Bank was also bombedone Mosque in the refugee camp of Jenin, where “a Hamas and Islamic Jihad cell that was planning new attacks sought refuge – Israel is certain of that.” The deputy commander of the Hamas rocket network was also killed.
And as Israel prepares for land invasion,… The USA is stationing air defense systems in the Middle East. On Saturday, the Rafah border crossing was opened for a few hours and an initial trickle of aid arrived, but the 20 trucks allowed in – said the UN – were a “drop in the ocean” given the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation of the more than two million people population, now exhausted.
In the bombings that followed the bloody Hamas attack in which at least 1,400 people died, the army attacked Gaza, causing the deaths of more than 4,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government, turning large parts of the enclave into Heaps of rubble were turned into smoking. The population is now exhausted because Israel has cut off distribution of food, water, fuel and electricity; and at least 40% of houses destroyed or damaged (UN data).
Now Israel wants to step up bombing to minimize the risks to its troops as they begin the ground invasion and must face urban guerrilla warfare unleashed by Hamas militants hiding in Gaza’s 200 kilometers of underground tunnels. Hide city. He bombed the south of the Gaza Strip overnight after announcing that he would step up his attacks in the north of the territory: at least eleven Palestinians were killed in the town of Khan Younis, while the southern town of Rafah was also hit, according to Palestinian media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his cabinet on Saturday evening, while the United States announced it would strengthen its military apparatus by sending more air defense systems to the Middle East and deploying more troops. Meanwhile, Israel is also intensifying the evacuation of the northern border area, warning that the escalation by Hezbollah risks “drawing Lebanon into war.”
And diplomacy is having a hard time: the Peace summit for Gaza and the “Palestinian Question” organized by Egypt in the so-called New Administrative Capital on the outskirts of the city. Cairo ended without a final joint statement of the 34 participating countries and international organizations.
Despite the lack of consensus at the end of the meeting, all guests categorically represented the same ideas: the coexistence of two states is the only viable solution to the conflict, the lives of civilians must be protected everywhere and humanitarian aid must be able to do so Enter the Gaza Strip. The United Nations hopes more aid will reach the Palestinian enclave today.
Lack of basic goods is pushing Gaza “to the brink of disaster,” says the World Food Program (World Food Program) citing gThere is a severe shortage of food, water and medical supplies in the enclave. The agency said it urgently needs $74 million to support the emergency in Gaza over the next 90 days.
Warehouses in the coastal enclave have less than a week’s worth of food reserves and the ability to replenish those supplies is “hampered by damaged roads, security problems and fuel shortages,” the World Food Program said. The report also cites a steady decline in food items such as vegetables, wheat flour and eggs, as well as an increase in their prices.
Hamas, “at least 55 dead” in nighttime raids in Gaza
At least they are 55 people were killed in Israeli raids that night to the Gaza Strip, where Israel is increasing its air strikes in advance of the ground operation: Hamas reports it Accordingly, at least 30 buildings were destroyed.
© AFP
Gaza
The Pentagon announces the deployment of defense systems
The Pentagon intends to increase its military presence in the Middle East the activation of air defense systems “across the” region and announced that other US forces may soon be deployed.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that this was in response to “recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East.” In particular, the US military is deploying more missile defense systems, in particular, as Lloyd Austin reported, “a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot battalions have been deployed throughout the region to increase protection for US forces.” .
Ordering troops to prepare for deployment is intended to “increase their readiness and ability to respond quickly if necessary,” he said. Both the Thaad and Patriots are air defense systems designed to fire short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles.
“After extensive discussions with President Biden about the The recent escalations in Iran and its proxy forces in the Middle East region, I have ordered a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense’s position in the region,” Austin said in a statement.
“These actions will strengthen regional deterrence efforts, increase the protection of U.S. forces in the region and support the defense of Israel,” Austin added
Israel evacuates 14 more communities due to tensions with Hezbollah
Israeli authorities have announced that they have decided to evacuate another 14 communities in the north on the border with Lebanon, in the area within five kilometers of the border, where rocket attacks by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah have been recorded continuously in recent days.
Reprint reserved © Agi 2023