The Israeli army intensifies its bombing in Gaza and expands its military operations with troops and tanks while never have so many planes taken off for raids in the Palestinian enclave. Clashes were reported in Bureji, central Gaza, and other locations.

“Our ground forces are still on the ground and carrying on the war,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. «Last night they entered the north of the Strip and extended their ground activities» . This could be a prelude to the now imminent invasion of the Strip, although according to a Hamas leader, Izzat al-Reshek, "Israel's hesitation in the face of the ground invasion of Gaza demonstrates a state of confusion and fear." "The resistance is ready for confrontation", he added, denouncing that the deprivation of water, fuel and electricity imposed on the population of Gaza by Israel "is a war crime".

Last night was the "worst night" since the beginning of the war due to the intensity of the bombings, some residents of the Strip told Haaretz: attacks by the Israeli armed forces were incessant in the eastern part of the city , from the Jabaliya refugee camp at Bet Lahiya and Bet Hanun. Attacks were also reported in the central Strip and in Khan Yunis in the south. The nightly attacks knocked out telephone lines and the Internet. The Gaza Strip is totally isolated.

In the raids with "fighter planes guided by precise intelligence information", "the head of the air force of the terrorist organization Hamas, Ezzam Abu Raffa, was killed", writes the Israeli Air Force in X. «He was responsible for managing the UAV equipment, drones, aerial detection, paragliders and air defense of the Hamas organization. As part of his assignment, he took part in the planning and execution of the murderous massacre in settlements around Gaza on 7 October."

The Israeli army also killed the commander of the Hamas Naval Forces of the Gaza City Brigade Ratib Abu Tzahiban. The Navy - added a military spokesperson - is providing support to the land forces engaged so far inside Gaza.

Today there was also a meeting between Netanyahu and the families of the hostages held in Gaza . According to the prime minister, "the greater the pressure on Hamas, the greater the chances of release". The family members, as told by a spokesperson , clarified the need to find an agreement based on " all in exchange for all ", that is, all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all hostages . «They have to bring them home – added the man – with any type of negotiation, no matter what they give them in exchange. Netanyahu listened to us and said he will do everything possible for this."

There are also concerns in the States where fears of an escalation of the war in Gaza are increasingly agitating the Biden administration . “We are very concerned,” admitted National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. And that's why behind the scenes the White House is urging Israel to review plans for a full ground invasion of Gaza. For the American president it would be preferable to opt for a surgical operation with planes and special forces for targeted raids against Hamas targets and infrastructure. In fact, the invasion could jeopardize negotiations for the release of the victims and a campaign of targeted attacks - for the USA - would reduce the number of victims

(Unioneonline/D)

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