In a harrowing turn of events, a pall of smoke enveloped a Gaza building as Israeli airstrikes struck, marking the fourth day of a devastating conflict. The Israeli army has reported more than 700 casualties and over 2,000 injuries since the Islamist movement, Hamas, launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7th.
Hamas Signals Readiness for Prolonged Conflict
In a grim declaration, a senior member of the militant group, Ali Barakeh, revealed that Hamas is prepared for a protracted war with Israel. Barakeh stated that they intend to leverage the dozens of hostages held in Gaza to secure the release of Palestinians detained in Israel and abroad. He emphasized Hamas’s substantial rocket arsenal, poised to sustain this conflict. Barakeh even hinted at the possibility of using hostages to negotiate the release of Palestinians imprisoned in the United States.
The Element of Surprise
Surprisingly, Barakeh disclosed that only a select few top commanders in Gaza were privy to the timing of Saturday’s incursion into Israel, and even their closest allies were kept in the dark. He vehemently denied reports of Iranian involvement in planning the attack but did acknowledge that Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah would intervene if Gaza faced annihilation. Barakeh expressed astonishment at the scale of the operation, characterizing the Israeli military as a “paper tiger.”
International Responses and Escalation
The United States has begun delivering urgently needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, signaling its support in the ongoing conflict. Israel, in retaliation for the bloody incursion by Hamas militants, has escalated airstrikes on the Gaza Strip while imposing a blockade on essential supplies. The death toll has now soared to nearly 1,600 on both sides.
Hamas’s Counterthreat and Israeli Mobilization
Hamas, in a counterthreat, vowed to execute captured Israelis if attacks on civilians without warnings continued. Tens of thousands of Gazans fled their homes as relentless airstrikes decimated buildings. Israel, in response, deployed tanks and drones along the Gaza border fence to prevent further incursions, evacuating thousands of its citizens and summoning a massive 300,000 reservists.
International Diplomacy and Concerns
US President Joe Biden confirmed that at least 11 American citizens had been killed in Hamas attacks and voiced solidarity with Israel. He, along with leaders of Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, condemned the attacks and affirmed their unwavering support for Israel. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, offered to mediate between Israeli and Palestinian authorities if both parties consented. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, likened Hamas’s actions to those of the Islamic State (IS), while the UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, pledged diplomatic, intelligence, or security support to Israel if requested.
Calls for Ceasefire and UN Appeal
UN Secretary-General António Guterres implored an end to the cycle of violence and polarization in the region, expressing deep distress over Israel’s declaration of a “complete siege” of Gaza. Meanwhile, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks would “change the Middle East.”
Cross-Border Clashes
Further tensions erupted as Israeli forces exchanged fire with armed individuals crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel, resulting in casualties and wounded soldiers. Israeli combat helicopters also conducted strikes inside Lebanon, prompting residents near the Lebanese border to seek shelter.
