2023-11-02 23:15:23
While some have been able to flee the hell of Gaza, others are still threatened by the bombs and the danger could spread to the Middle East. The war between Israel and Hamas is in its 27th day since the surprise attack by the Palestinian movement on October 7. The Rafah border terminal has allowed hundreds of foreigners to leave the Gaza Strip, but bombings there are still violent, particularly on the Jabaliya camp.
Gaza “surrounded”
The IDF announced Thursday evening that it had “completed the encirclement of Gaza City”, a week after the start of its ground operation in the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military earlier said troops were “infiltrating deeper and deeper” into Hamas-held areas. On the Palestinian side, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad also reported “very close fighting”, while the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas warned Israel: Gaza will be its “curse”.
Hundreds of foreigners evacuated
The Egyptian Health Ministry announced that 21 injured Palestinians were evacuated to Egyptian hospitals for treatment on Thursday. “344 foreigners, including 72 children” also crossed the Rafah border terminal. Joe Biden notably announced that 74 dual nationals holding American passports had been evacuated from the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, 76 Palestinians (46 injured and 30 people accompanying them) and more than 300 foreigners and dual nationals were able to leave Gaza, according to an Egyptian official.
Hezbollah more threatening
The Israeli army announced Thursday evening that it had carried out a “large strike” against the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah in response to several attacks from Lebanon earlier in the day. Rocket fire injured two people in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, according to Israeli emergency services.
For its part, Hezbollah claimed to have simultaneously attacked “19 Israeli positions and military sites”. All on the eve of the first speech by the leader of this group supported by Iran, Hassan Nasrallah, since the attack of October 7.
New bombardment on the Jabaliya camp
The Hamas government announced Thursday that at least 27 people were killed in an Israeli strike near a UN school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, the third bombing on the camp in three days. The largest in the Gaza Strip had already been hit on Tuesday and Wednesday. These bombings left 195 dead, 777 injured and 120 missing under the rubble, according to Hamas.
According to Israel, Tuesday’s strike made it possible to “eliminate” a senior Hamas leader. Although these reports could not be verified from an independent source, the UN announced that four of its schools housing displaced people had been hit on Thursday by bombings attributed to Israel by the Hamas government. They caused 23 deaths according to the United Nations.
A third of hospitals closed
According to the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), 14 hospitals out of 36 in the Gaza Strip are no longer functioning, due to the war and lack of fuel. Two specialized medical centers are also said to be at a standstill. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added that the WHO continued to demand a “humanitarian ceasefire”. He spoke of an “indescribable” situation, while denouncing multiple obstacles limiting the arrival of aid.
#IsraelHamas #war #Gaza #surrounded #hundreds #foreigners #evacuated #update #day