The escalations between Israel and Hamas have now exceeded over a week after Gaza-based militant group Hamas launched a surprise offensive on October 7 on the southern and central regions of Israel which has claimed more than 3,000 lives from both sides so far. In the latest development, Israel issued appeals to the residents of northern Gaza to leave the place as it prepared for a ground offensive while Hamas urged the residents to stay put.
The war has not only sent shockwaves in the Middle East region but the geopolitics at large as the United States, the United Kingdom and its allies have been backing Israel’s “right to defend” while nations like Iran, and Russia have held Tel Aviv and Washington responsible for the war.
Over 3,000 Killed On Both Sides As Israel Continues Blockade Over Gaza
Since the Saturday attacks, more than 3,000 people have been killed on both sides, Israel and Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, around 1,800 people were reported to be killed in the escalations till Friday whereas the Israeli military said that the death toll in its country stood at 1,300 including 222 soldiers.
Israel has cut off the supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza while also issuing an appeal to flee the residents of the northern region to head south as it prepares for ground offensive. The only crossing point between Gaza and Egypt was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes and Tel Aviv warned Cairo of providing any supplies to Gaza.
A Reuters videographer was killed while several others injured after an Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in southern Lebanon on Friday
Iran Warns Israel, Biden Cautions Tehran To Remain ‘Careful’
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Saturday called on Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza saying that if Hezbollah enters the fight, the conflict might spread to other regions of the Middle East, causing Israel to face a “huge earthquake”.
Lebanon's Hezbollah is Israel's most significant immediate danger, with an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles capable of striking anyplace in Israel.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden warned Iran against getting involved in the conflict.
"We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said Thursday, adding that the moving of US aircraft carriers and military ships closer to Israel should be a clear signal to Iran, which backs Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
According to an AFP report, the US is preparing to send a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday.