Tel Aviv cites impending bad weather | Iran restive, Blinken extends Middle East tour
New Delhi: Israel continued its bombing of Gaza Strip that has claimed the lives of 300 more civilians in the last 24 hours even as some reports claimed that it had put on hold the ground offensive for a couple of days and offered more time to North Gaza residents to evacuate, a special report by Sandeep Dikshit in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says
Death toll 3,600
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his Middle East tour and will return to Tel Aviv on Monday amid indications that Iran was getting restive over the continuing and escalating humanitarian crises due to the bombings and the blockade.
Blinken visited six Arab countries and is currently in Egypt. The common message from all the Arab capitals has been a complete opposition to Israel punishing the entire population of Gaza for Hamas’ assault. His extended shuttle diplomacy reflects the US worry about the fighting spilling over to the entire region.
With 300 more killed, the death toll in Gaza Strip crossed 2,300 while 10,000 were injured (on Sunday morning), according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel also upped its toll of soldiers who have died from 222 to 274, of the total 1,300 Israelis dead so far, most of them in the initial hours of the Hamas attack on October 7.
Israel claimed that the offensive was being put on hold for a couple of days due to impending bad weather that would make it difficult for its ground forces and drones to operate.
US President Joe Biden on Sunday drew attention to the plight of civilians, saying, “We must not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas’ appalling attacks, and are suffering as a result of them.”
An outcome of the worldwide urging to ease the humanitarian suffering of civilians in Gaza was that Israel was restoring water supply to southern Gaza. It had earlier stopped the flow of water as part of its siege of the Hamas-ruled territory since the war broke out last weekend.
US NSA Jake Sullivan also did not rule out Iran getting engaged in some way and said the US is prepared for every possible contingency.
The US has already deployed an aircraft carrier group equipped with fighter jets and lethal missiles while another such group is on the way to the Mediterranean to deter Iran.
Biden dials Netanyahu, Abbas
US President Joe Biden reiterated US’ support for Israel and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid for Palestinians as he held separate phone calls with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Israel PM holds emergency meet
PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday convened a meeting of Israel’s expanded emergency Cabinet for the first time and said the country was ready to “demolish Hamas” in Gaza.
2 Indian-origin Israeli women officers killed
- Two Indian-origin Israeli women security officers were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7
- The victims are Lt Or Moses and Inspector Kim Dokraker
- 2 flights bring back 471 more Indians
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