In Rafah, Gaza Strip, the second aid convoy aimed at assisting desperate Palestinian civilians arrived in Gaza on Sunday. Israel had expanded its attacks to include targets in Syria and the occupied West Bank, and the Israeli Prime Minister issued a warning to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, stating that if it launches its own war, Israel will respond with overwhelming force.
Israel had been on the brink of launching a ground offensive in Gaza following a violent incursion by Hamas into several Israeli communities on October 7. Tanks and troops had been positioned at the Gaza border, awaiting orders to advance.
Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, explained that the country had increased airstrikes in Gaza to target specific objectives that would reduce risks to its troops in the next stage of the conflict.
Concerns about a broader conflict escalated as Israeli warplanes conducted strikes in Gaza, targeted two airports in Syria, and reportedly struck a mosque in the occupied West Bank used by militants.
Israel had engaged in clashes with Hezbollah militants since the beginning of the conflict, and tensions were rising in the West Bank, where Israeli forces had clashed with militants in refugee camps and carried out two airstrikes in recent days.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed troops in northern Israel, warning Hezbollah that any war it initiates will have severe consequences. He stated that Israel would respond with overwhelming force.
Hamas reported fighting with Israeli forces near Khan Younis in southern Gaza and claimed to have destroyed a tank and two bulldozers.
Late on Sunday, Rear Adm. Hagari announced that a soldier was killed and three others were wounded by an anti-tank missile during a raid inside Gaza while attempting to rescue more than 200 hostages abducted in the October 7 attack.
On Saturday, 20 trucks delivered the first aid shipment to Gaza since Israel imposed a complete siege two weeks earlier. Israeli authorities, at the request of the United States, allowed a second batch of aid into Gaza on Sunday. This aid included water, food, and medical supplies, and it was inspected by Israel before entering Gaza. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees confirmed the arrival of 14 trucks.
Notably, Israel had not permitted any fuel to enter Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. An incident occurred where Israeli shelling hit an Egyptian watchtower on Egypt’s side of the border, causing minor injuries. The Israeli military apologized, explaining that a tank had accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post, and an investigation into the incident was underway.
Relief workers emphasized that much more aid was required to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents had been displaced. The United Nations humanitarian agency noted that Saturday’s convoy represented only about 4% of the average daily imports before the conflict and was just a fraction of what was needed after 13 days of a complete siege.
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