Israel Soldiers Attacked Hamas Gunmen Inside Islamists’ Sophisticated Tunnel Network Beneath Gaza
Date : 31st October, 2023
THE SOIL – After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire to ease the humanitarian crisis, Israel said its soldiers had attacked Hamas gunmen inside the Islamists’ sophisticated tunnel network beneath Gaza.
The tunnels are an important objective for Israel as it escalates its ground operations inside Gaza in an attempt to wipe out the Islamist Hamas movement, which has been occupying the territory since a surprise attack three weeks ago that is believed to have killed over 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.
Witnesses reported on Tuesday that Israeli troops were conducting ground operations in the northwest of the Palestinian enclave when Israeli armed forces launched air, sea, and ground bombs on Gaza during the course of the night.
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Israel Launched Attacks On Gaza City From 2 Directions
Israel has received pressure from the US and Arab nations to postpone any ground operation that could result in more civilian losses and spark a larger conflict.
Israel’s military claimed to have downed an approaching “aerial target” when air raid sirens went off near the Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea on Tuesday.
Israel launched attacks on Gaza City on Monday from two directions, according to witnesses, focusing on the city’s main north-south thoroughfare. Israel said that one of its soldiers had been released from Hamas custody.
Of the 240 captives Israel claims were taken during the strikes on October 7, Hamas has so far freed four civilians. The tunnels are thought to be the location of several hostages.
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Gaza's estimated 2.3 Million Civilians Almost 1.4 Million are Now Without a Place to Live
A report from Gaza’s health authorities, since October 7, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of 8,306 people—3,457 of them were kids. Of Gaza’s estimated 2.3 million civilians, almost 1.4 million are now without a place to live, according to U.N. officials.
Calls for a ceasefire to enable more humanitarian aid to reach the enclave have been made by the U.N., other nations, and the United States, Israel’s principal supporter, in response to the increasing death toll.
Late on Monday, Netanyahu declared that Israel would not consent to an end to hostilities and would continue with its preparations to destroy Hamas.
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