Israel-Hamas War Updates: Israel Expands Ground Operations, Pounds Gaza’s North
Israel today continued to bombard Gaza as its troops pressed into the enclave with a ground assault. Israel has been pounding Gaza after Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7 and killed about 1,400 people. The Hamas operatives also took at least 239 hostages.
According to the Israeli government, more than half the hostages held by Hamas have foreign passports from 25 countries, including 54 Thai nationals.
Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip on Sunday said that 8,005 people – including 3,324 minors – had been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush” Hamas operatives, who have an extensive tunnel network in and around Gaza City.
33 Aid Trucks Entered Gaza On Sunday: UN
As many as thirty-three aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, the United Nations has said.
The United Nations humanitarian organisation OCHA said trucks carrying water, food and medical supplies had gone into Gaza on Sunday, through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
“This is the largest delivery of humanitarian aid since 21 October, when limited deliveries resumed,” the OCHA said in an update on the situation in Gaza sent early Monday.
To date, it said, 117 trucks had entered Gaza through the crossing since limited deliveries resumed.
“Help Americans In Gaza Leave Safely”: Biden Tells Netanyahu
US President Joe Biden spoke with Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday and discussed the situation in Gaza.
“We discussed efforts to secure the release of hostages and help Americans in Gaza leave safely, and I underscored the need to immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,” Mr Biden said.
“I reiterated that Israel has every right to defend its citizens from terrorism and a responsibility to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law which prioritizes the protection of civilians,” he added.
Biden, Egypt President Discuss Humanitarian Aid To War-Torn Gaza
US President Joe Biden on Sunday spoke with Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s role in efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to war-torn Gaza.
According to White House, the two leaders committed to the significant acceleration and increase of assistance flowing into Gaza beginning Sunday and then continuously.
“They also discussed the importance of protecting civilian lives, respect for international humanitarian law, and ensuring that Palestinians in Gaza are not displaced to Egypt or any other nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Mr Biden also briefed President Sisi on US efforts to ensure that “regional actors not expand” the conflict in Gaza and also on continuing efforts to secure the release of hostages.
Mr Biden and Mr Sisi affirmed their commitment to work together to set the conditions for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East to include the establishment of a Palestinian state.