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Israel Refuses to Lift Gaza Siege Without Hostages
Date: October 12, 2023
Location: Jerusalem, Israel
THE SOIL – Israel reaffirmed its position on Thursday, saying that it will not reduce its siege of the Gaza Strip until all those who are detained are freed. This announcement came in response to a request from the Red Cross to allow fuel to enter, in an effort to keep hospitals from becoming a scene of mass casualties.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv and delivered a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating the United States’ steadfast commitment to stand with Israel.
In reaction to the worst attack on Israeli citizens in history, Israel has promised to remove the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip. This attack happened on Saturday when a sizable contingent of armed people crossed the border and ransacked communities.
The state-run media outlet Kan said that there have been more than 1,300 Israeli deaths. Most of these victims were innocent bystanders who were shot and killed in their homes, on the streets, or during a social event. Many Israelis and foreigners were taken prisoner and sent to Gaza; Israel has formally named 97 of the prisoners.
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Israel has Laid Down a Total Blockade on the 2.3 million-person
In response, Israel has laid down a total blockade on the 2.3 million-person enclave of Gaza and launched the largest aerial campaign in the seventy-five-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, destroying entire neighbourhoods in the process. Over 1,400 Palestinians have reportedly died and over 6,000 more have been injured, according to Gaza’s officials.
In a worrisome statement, the International Red Cross Committee has warned that there are only a few hours left in the fuel supply for the emergency generators in Gaza’s hospitals.
“Hospitals run the risk of becoming mortuaries without electricity,” stated Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the ICRC. “The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.”
Israel Katz, the country’s energy minister, made it clear that there would be no exceptions made to the blockade and that it would only be lifted in the event that Israeli prisoners were freed.
Humanitarian assistance for Gaza?
“Humanitarian Assistance for Gaza? Until the Israeli hostages are sent home, no fuel truck will drive in, no water hydrant will be turned on, and no electrical switch will be raised. For the sake of humanitarians. And no one ought to lecture us about morality,” Katz wrote on the social media network X.
Egypt said it was attempting to permit aid entry into Gaza, where it shares a single border crossing.
Syria has reported that Israeli bombings have seriously damaged the airports in Aleppo and Damascus, rendering them inoperable. This is a significant development that suggests the battle may spread beyond Syria’s borders. Regarding these accusations, the Israeli military has chosen not to issue any formal statements. It is important to note that, despite denying any direct involvement, Syria publicly applauds these attacks and maintains a solid partnership with Iran, a major Hamas backer.
![Katz](https://thesoilnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-12-at-9.39.15-PM.png)
![Katz](https://thesoilnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-12-at-9.39.15-PM.png)