Smoke billows during Israeli air strikes in Rafah, Gaza, October 15, 2023. /CFP
Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week.
"Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, locate where Hamas prepares, plans and launches attacks, and strike hard everywhere, targeting every commander, every operative, and dismantling their infrastructure," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told soldiers near Gaza, according to a video released by the army.
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Hundreds of thousands internally displaced
At least 1,284 individuals in Israel have been killed in the onslaught by Hamas militants since October 7, according to the official figures released by the Israeli Interior Ministry on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari again urged residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate southward, adding that Israel has opened humanitarian corridors and "hundreds of thousands" have already fled to the south.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, prior to Israeli warnings, more than 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced due to the conflict. So far, 2,670 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, with more than 9,600 injuries reported, the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry updated on Sunday.
Responding to reports of a looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz stated that water is provided "at a specific point" in southern Gaza, without elaborating on the exact location.
However, Mazen Ghoneim, head of the Palestinian Water Authority, denied reports that Israel resumed water supply to the Gaza Strip.
"Even if the water supply is resumed, the power outage has made the Water Authority incapable of pumping the water into taps and pumps to finally supply it to Gaza residents," said Ghoneim.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that the region was "on the verge of the abyss", and also called on Hamas to release all hostages.
Palestinians take shelter in a UN school as Israeli attacks on Gaza continue on the 9th day in Deir al Balah, Gaza, October 15, 2023. /CFP
'Non-expansion of the conflicts' urged
Meanwhile, the conflict between Lebanon's Hezbollah military group and Israeli forces in the border area has shown no sign of abating amid fears of a war on the second front, Palestinian eyewitnesses said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel had "no interest in a war in the north, we don't want to escalate the situation."
"If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a heavy price, but if it restrains itself, we'll respect the situation," he added.
Countries in the Middle East and other parts of the world are concerned about violence spreading.
"No one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts" if Israel sends its soldiers into Gaza, said Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
"Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding need to prevent the current barbaric attacks against citizens and civilians in Gaza," he added.
During his call with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is communicating and coordinating with the parties concerned to prevent the expansion of the fighting and avert a humanitarian disaster, and will continue to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip through the UN and bilateral channels.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed out that "determination in every country I went to make sure that this doesn't spread" during his recent tour to the region.
(With input from agencies)