On Thursday, Israel declared that there would be no cessation of its siege on the Gaza Strip, whether for humanitarian aid or evacuations until all its hostages were released. This announcement came as the United States called upon Israel to protect civilians, while the Red Cross issued a stark warning of a looming humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, arrived in Tel Aviv to express solidarity with Israel and reiterated America's unwavering support and commitment to providing security assistance. Nevertheless, he urged Israel to exercise restraint, particularly in challenging circumstances.
Israel is determined to eradicate the Hamas movement that governs the Gaza Strip in retaliation for what is regarded as the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians. This assault transpired when hundreds of armed individuals breached the security barrier and wreaked havoc in Israeli towns.
The Israeli military's leader, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, acknowledged security lapses around Gaza that facilitated the attack and pledged to scrutinize these failures. He emphasized the Israeli Defense Forces' primary duty to safeguard the nation and its citizens and insisted that the time for war was upon them.
The public broadcaster Kan reported that the Israeli death toll had risen to over 1,300, the majority of whom were civilians killed in their homes, on the streets, or at a celebratory event. Scores of Israelis and foreign nationals were taken as hostages and returned to Gaza, with Israel claiming to have identified 97 of them.
In response to these events, Israel imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza, a territory inhabited by 2.3 million people, and initiated one of the most extensive bombing campaigns in the seven-and-a-half decades of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This campaign resulted in the destruction of entire neighborhoods. Gaza authorities reported that over 1,400 Palestinians had been killed, and more than 6,000 had been wounded.
The International Committee of the Red Cross voiced its concerns about emergency generator fuel depleting rapidly at Gaza's hospitals, posing a grave threat to patient care. Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC regional director, pleaded for measures to alleviate the suffering of civilians in the face of this escalating conflict.
Israel's Energy Minister, Israel Katz, unequivocally stated that the siege would not be relaxed unless Israeli hostages were freed. He declared that no electricity would be restored, water supplies would remain shut off, and fuel deliveries would be prohibited until Israeli hostages were safely returned. Katz underscored the principle of reciprocity, asserting that humanitarian gestures were contingent on equivalent actions. He posted his message on the social media platform X.
Egypt, which shares a single border crossing with Gaza, expressed its efforts to facilitate the delivery of aid to the region.
In a significant development that indicated the potential expansion of the conflict across borders, Syria reported Israeli air strikes targeting the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, rendering them inoperable. The Israeli military abstained from commenting on these reports. Syria, a staunch ally of Iran, which sponsors Hamas, has supported and celebrated the attacks, although it denies direct involvement.
Antony Blinken, standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized the enduring support of the United States for Israel's security. He reassured Israel of America's commitment to standing by its side in its times of need. Netanyahu conveyed his gratitude to the United States for its steadfast support and expressed his appreciation.
In a more personal and emotional moment, Blinken recounted the experiences of his own family. He spoke about how his grandfather fled anti-Semitic pogroms in Russia, and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps. He connected these personal experiences to the empathy he felt for the Jewish community and Israelis affected by the current situation.
Blinken's address included a call for democracies to uphold higher standards, even in the face of daunting challenges. He advocated for minimizing harm to civilians and urged all possible precautions to be taken.
Blinken's visit to Jordan on the following day was scheduled to include meetings with King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas, representing Fatah, a historical rival of Hamas, condemned the violence against civilians on both sides, underlining the importance of adhering to moral, religious, and international principles.
In Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, scores of Israelis gathered to bury the victims of the conflict. Mourners conveyed their profound grief and respect, acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who had perished.
In Gaza's city of Khan Younis, where cemeteries were already full, deceased individuals were laid to rest in unoccupied spaces. The Samour family, tragically killed in a strike on their home, had eight of their bodies identified at the morgue, with ten more presumed to be under the rubble. These bodies were transported to a nearby empty lot, where they were prepared for burial in white shrouds. Hundreds of men gathered for prayers nearby.
In another heart-wrenching scene at a local hospital, a woman tried to comfort a weeping girl who had lost her home due to an attack. The girl's cries were marked by the haunting refrain, "My mother, I want my mother." In response, the woman cradled the distressed child in her arms.
In Gaza's Al Shati refugee camp, residents undertook the arduous task of searching for survivors and victims amid the debris, using their bare hands. They faced the added challenge of insufficient fuel and equipment for the rescue operations.
While the United States has demonstrated strong support for Israel, Blinken's scheduled meeting with Abbas signals a consideration of Palestinian grievances, a concern shared by Arab allies.
The people of Gaza, primarily descendants of refugees displaced from their homes in Israel's founding in 1948, have experienced economic hardship and endured repeated Israeli offensives while living under a protracted blockade since Hamas took control of the territory 16 years ago. In recent months, Palestinian frustration has escalated, with Israel
 conducting a severe crackdown in the West Bank, the right-wing government contemplating territorial expansion, and the failure of a peace process that would have led to the creation of a Palestinian state. These factors have left the Palestinian population disillusioned and have strengthened extremist factions.
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