Israel Turns Gaza Into 'Hell', Death Toll Nearly 6,000

The Israeli military announced it was increasing bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza on Saturday (21/10/2023), just hours after the first aid trucks arrived from Egypt bringing much-needed aid to civilians in the war-torn enclave.

The military said it aims to reduce the risks its troops will face when they enter Gaza in the next phase of the war it is waging against Hamas after the militant group carried out the deadliest attack in Israel's history on October 7.

Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials.

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Israel retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel's siege has cut off food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated region of 2.4 million people, prompting warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophe.

Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have been deployed to the Gaza border ahead of a ground offensive that officials say will begin "soon".

"Starting today, we are increasing attacks and minimizing the danger," said military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari, reported by AFP.

"We must enter the next phase of the war in the best condition possible, not based on what others tell us."

On a visit to a frontline infantry brigade, chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said troops were ready for whatever surprises Hamas had in store for them in Gaza.

"Gaza is densely populated, the enemy is preparing a lot there - but we are also preparing for it," Halevi said

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Minimal Hel

AFP journalists saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent passing through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to Gaza on Saturday.

The crossing - the only road into Gaza not controlled by Israel - was closed again after the trucks passed through.

The trucks had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid in.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the 20 trucks were far from what Gazans needed, and told a peace summit in Egypt that "much more" aid needed to be sent.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged "all parties" to keep the Rafah crossing open.

However, a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially since no fuel was allowed in to help distribute supplies to those in need.

More than a million Gazans have been forced to flee their homes in northern Gaza, ahead of an expected Israeli offensive.

The humanitarian situation there is "catastrophic," said five UN agencies including UNICEF and WHO. "The world must do more

Horrible Nightmare

In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted a peace summit attended by regional leaders and several Western leaders.

"The time has come for action to end this terrible nightmare," Guterres said at the summit, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire".

"The grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long-standing" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight", he added.

"Nothing can justify Hamas' despicable attacks terrorizing Israeli civilians," he stressed.

But he added: "Such despicable attacks can never justify collective punishment against the Palestinian people."

Arab diplomats who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said the summit broke up without a joint statement, highlighting the gulf between Arab countries and the West over how best to achieve lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Western delegates demanded "clear condemnation and placed responsibility for the escalation on Hamas" but Arab leaders refused, diplomats said.

Instead, host Egypt issued a statement - drafted with the approval of the Arab delegation - criticizing world leaders for trying to "deal with the conflict and not end it permanently".

"Temporary solutions and palliative treatment... do not meet even the lowest aspirations" of the Palestinian people, the statement said.

Israel complained about the lack of condemnation of the Hamas attack on October 7.

"It is unfortunate that even when faced with such horrific atrocities, some people have difficulty condemning terrorism or recognizing its dangers," the ministry statement said.

A glimmer of hope

Israel's massive ground offensive in Gaza carries many risks, including citizens held hostage by Hamas, whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty.

So the release of two Americans among the hostages — mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan — offers a rare "glimmer of hope," said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas' political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release.

He is working "around the clock" to win back other detained Americans, he said.

Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt "overwhelming joy" at the release after "the most horrific ordeal".

Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release and that they were "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the files of civilians (hostages) if security conditions allow".

Destruction

Nearly half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30% of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the UN said.

Thousands of people took refuge in a camp set up in the town of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some point they were forced to run when missiles hit them.

"We saw bodies and torn limbs and we started praying, thinking we would die," he told AFP.

In new exchanges of fire on Israel's border with Lebanon on Saturday, Hezbollah reported the loss of four fighters while the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad reported one fighter killed.

Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the health ministry.

Thousands of people rallied on Saturday in support of Palestinians in cities in France, Italy, Spain and the UK, including nearly 100,000 people in London