Israel says it will soon launch an attack on Gaza, as conflict continues to spread

Israel hit Gaza with more air strikes on Thursday after Hamas infiltrated and killed 1,400 people in its southern border areas on October 7.

Israel says it will soon launch a military attack on Gaza, the conflict is spreading more and more, picture 1 — Israeli tanks and infantry have been stationed close to the Gaza border. Photo: Reuters

Israel's invasion of Gaza is approaching

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video of himself and his troops near the border. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters in Amman: “All the signs are that the worst is coming.”

US President Joe Biden briefly visited Israel on Wednesday amid turmoil following a hospital explosion in Gaza that Palestinians blame on an Israeli airstrike, but Israel says was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian militants.

Later, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also visited to show Western support for the fight against Hamas. Mr. Sunak also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the conflict.

Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza late on Tuesday, but US and Israeli sources put the death toll at lower levels.

Biden had limited success in his efforts to get aid into Gaza, allowing 20 trucks to cross the Egyptian border into Gaza. Two Egyptian security sources said equipment was sent through the border crossing on Thursday to repair roads on the Gaza side. More than 100 trucks are now waiting in Egypt.

The crossing has been closed since the first days of the conflict and Israeli bombing. The newly appointed US special envoy for Middle East humanitarian affairs, David Satterfield, is still meeting with Israeli and Egyptian officials to discuss further humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Violence escalates on the border between Lebanon and the West Bank

In another development that threatens to escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group fired another rocket at an Israeli position in the village of Manara on Thursday. Israel then responded with heavy artillery fire, triggering the worst border violence between the two countries in 17 years.

The Israeli military said at least 20 rockets and an anti-tank missile were fired from Lebanon. Lebanese security sources and UN peacekeepers said a Lebanese civilian was killed in the area.

Israel says it will soon launch a military attack on Gaza, the conflict is spreading more and more, picture 2 — Israeli military vehicles have increased their activities in the West Bank amid increased violence. Photo: AP

Amid fears the West Bank could become a third front in a wider war, 12 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces at the Nur Shams refugee camp, the Palestinian Red Crescent said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, called for anti-Israel protests across Arab and Muslim countries on Friday and said the group was prepared for a long battle with Israel.

So far, according to Palestinian health officials, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to more than 3,500 people, with more than 12,000 others injured.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN, AP)

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