The Israeli air force has struck hundreds of targets in the fight against the Islamist Hamas attackers in the north of the Gaza Strip. Dozens of fighter jets attacked 750 military targets overnight, Israel’s military said early Friday morning. Targets attacked included Hamas underground tunnels, military facilities, residences of high-ranking terrorists used as military command centers, and weapons depots.
The Israeli army called on civilians in Gaza to seek safety south of the Gaza River. This indicates the imminent start of an Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“The terrorist organization Hamas is waging a war against the State of Israel, and Gaza is an area where military operations are taking place,” the military said in justifying the call. “They will not be able to return to Gaza until a further announcement is made allowing this,” it said. Nobody should approach the area of the security fence to the State of Israel.
The Islamist Hamas, however, described the call for evacuation as “propaganda”. Civilians should not fall for the “propaganda news,” the ruling Palestinian organization in the Gaza Strip said on Friday. Israel, the USA and the EU have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Health system on the verge of collapse
The suffering civilian population in the coastal strip hermetically sealed off by Israel is in an increasingly hopeless situation on the seventh day after the Hamas massacre of hundreds of Israelis. The health system is “on the verge of collapse,” warned the World Health Organization (WHO). “Without electricity, hospitals run the risk of becoming morgues,” wrote Fabrizio Carboni, Middle East regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on the online platform X.
Foreign leaders expected in Israel
Following Hamas’ devastating terrorist attacks on Israel, a number of top politicians from abroad are expected in Israel today, including Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US Department of Defense announced that Austin is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joav Galant and other members of the emergency government.
Austin wanted to make clear the US’s “unwavering commitment” to Israel’s security, it said. He wanted to talk to the Israeli leadership about their operational planning and goals in the conflict. It is also about discussing the need for military aid. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani are also traveling to Israel on a solidarity visit.
Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza rises to over 1,500
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli air strikes rose to at least 1,537. At least 6,612 other people were injured, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced yesterday evening. According to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch, Israel’s military also used white phosphorus in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. This was shown by verified videos and witness statements. The human rights organization complained that the operation in the densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip violated international humanitarian law.
US Secretary of State wants to meet Palestinian President Abbas
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. After his stay in Israel, Blinken announced yesterday in Tel Aviv that he would travel on to Jordan to meet Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
He then plans to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to speak with government officials, it said. Each of these meetings is about influencing the countries to prevent the conflict from spreading in the region and to achieve the release of the hostages in Gaza, said Blinken.
Britain moves ships to eastern Mediterranean
Meanwhile, Great Britain is sending Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean and supporting Israel with reconnaissance flights. This was announced by the government headquarters at 10 Downing Street in London. The measure is intended to strengthen stability in the region, prevent escalation and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, the statement said last night. Meanwhile, the US government offered Israel extensive support in negotiations to release the hostages held captive by the Islamist Hamas.
Turkish community: Don’t let Hamas exploit you
Following Hamas’ call for its global support today, the Turkish community is warning against heeding it. “Stay away from the manipulation of Hamas, it harms Muslims all over the world!” said chairman Gökay Sofuoglu to the Berlin “Tagesspiegel”.
“We should take a clear stance together. I therefore appeal to all Muslims in Germany not to allow themselves to be exploited by Hamas.” Because of feared acts of violence by Hamas supporters against Jewish institutions today, Israel is urging its citizens abroad to be vigilant. “It can be assumed that there will be protest events in various countries that could turn violent,” warned the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Germans returned from Israel on special Lufthansa flights
Meanwhile, hundreds of Germans have returned home from Israel on special Lufthansa flights. The first special plane from Tel Aviv landed at Frankfurt Airport yesterday evening with 370 passengers. Another plane followed later. Two planes also landed in Munich.
Four more special flights are planned for today. The Bundeswehr is preparing to be able to bring German citizens back from Israel if necessary. The US government wants to provide charter flights starting today to help its nationals leave Israel.
Russia strongly criticizes Israeli air strikes on Syria
Russia has criticized Israeli Air Force attacks on airports in Syria as a gross violation of the country’s sovereignty and warned of further escalation in the Middle East. Given the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, such actions could provoke an expansion of the military conflict across the entire region, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow wrote in a press release yesterday.
