The Israeli army announced the launch of a major offensive aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that they had mobilized troops in Operation “Gideon’s Chariots” to capture strategic areas of the Strip.
They say they will not stop until Hamas is no longer a threat and all Israeli hostages are returned home. According to the IDF, 150 targets were hit in 24 hours. Israel has intensified its bombardment of the besieged enclave and has massed armored forces around the border despite growing international pressure to resume ceasefire talks and end the blockade on Gaza.
The launch of the operation suggests that all efforts have failed. Israeli media say that “Gideon’s Chariots,” a reference to a biblical warrior, envisions taking and controlling territory, displacing more residents in southern Gaza, attacking Hamas and preventing it from taking control of humanitarian supplies.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was preparing for an intensive incursion into Gaza to seize and hold the territory. The Gaza health ministry claims that around 250 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since Thursday. The UN has warned that the latest escalation by Israel could be considered a violation of international law. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stressed that the US was concerned by the situation. (A2 Televizion)
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