By Ashoke Raj
TEL AVIV,
IN A move to retaliate against Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Israeli soldiers, their tanks and munitions have been deployed near the Gaza border as they prepare for a full ground offensive against Hamas. In the pictures coming in from the Gaza border, tanks can be seen firing shells towards the Gaza Strip. Moreover, soldiers are seen loading artillery shells into howitzers. Adding to this, Israeli infantry troops have been moving closer to the Gaza border in anticipation of a full ground offensive on Hamas. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) asked residents of the Northern Gaza Strip to relocate to the southern part of the enclave using evacuation corridors between 10 am to 4 pm (local time), ‘The Times of Israel’ reported.
The Israeli military said, “If you care about yourself and your loved ones, go south as instructed.” It further said, “Rest assured that Hamas leaders have taken care of themselves and are taking cover from strikes in the region.” Their message indicated that the IDF could be readying to launch a ground invasion in response to Hamas’s attac. However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to “reconsider” its warning, calling it “dangerous and deeply troubling,” according to ‘The New York Times’. WHO plane carrying medical supplies for people of Gaza lands in Egypt: A WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) plane carrying medical supplies to support urgent health needs in Gaza has landed at Al-Arish airport in Egypt. The medical supplies will be delivered to Gaza to meet critical health needs as soon as humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing is established.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated his call on Israel to reconsider its decision to evacuate 1.1 million people in Gaza. The plane carrying 78 cubic metres of health supplies includes enough trauma medicines and health supplies to treat 1,200 wounded patients and 1,500 patients suffering from heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory problems, and basic essential health supplies to serve the needs of 3,00,000 people, including pregnant women, the WHO announced in a press release.