Israel Continues Bombardment of Gaza as Putin Warns of Wider Conflict

In the besieged Gaza Strip, humanitarian supplies have reached critically low levels, while world powers have failed to reach a consensus on a temporary ceasefire to deliver much-needed aid. Residents are now forced to bury the dead in mass graves as the civilian death toll continues to rise.

The Israeli military confirmed that ground forces launched multiple attacks in the Hamas terrorist-ruled enclave on Thursday, marking one of the largest incursions in the current conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden, during a joint press conference in Washington with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, emphasized the importance of a future where Israeli and Palestinian states coexist side by side in safety, dignity, and peace.

Biden also suggested that one reason for the recent escalation in violence, initiated by Iranian-backed Hamas on October 7, may be an attempt to disrupt the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed grave concerns that the crisis could escalate and spread beyond the Middle East, highlighting the impact on innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly in Gaza. He called for an immediate end to the bloodshed and violence during a meeting with Russian religious leaders from various faiths.

In light of the escalating situation in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel has agreed to delay a ground invasion until U.S. air defence systems can be deployed in the region, potentially as early as this week, to protect American forces.

U.S. officials have expressed concerns to Israel about the possibility of Iran and Iranian-backed groups escalating the conflict by targeting U.S. troops in the Middle East. An Israeli incursion into Gaza could serve as a trigger for actions by Iranian proxies, according to the officials.

The conflict in Gaza has already had ripple effects beyond the Palestinian territories. Israeli warplanes have targeted Syrian army infrastructure in response to rocket attacks from Syria, an ally of Iran. Additionally, Israel has taken action against Syria’s Aleppo airport and Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Iran, a longstanding adversary of Israel, has long sought regional influence and backs armed groups in various countries, including Syria, Lebanon, and Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Iran has warned Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza.

At the United Nations, a U.S.-drafted Security Council resolution calling for temporary ceasefires to allow the delivery of food, water, and medicine to Palestinian civilians was vetoed by Russia and China. The United Arab Emirates also voted against the resolution, while ten members voted in favour and two abstained.

Russia proposed an alternative resolution that called for a broader ceasefire but failed to secure the minimum number of votes. Israel has resisted both resolutions, asserting that Hamas terrorists would exploit any pause in hostilities to create new threats for Gaza’s civilian population.

As the death toll continues to rise in Gaza, Palestinians are resorting to mass graves for the unidentified deceased, marked with numbers instead of names. Families are using bracelets in the hope of identifying their loved ones in case they are killed.

The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas terrorists, has reported that Israeli retaliatory strikes have claimed the lives of over 6,500 people. Reuters has been unable to independently verify casualty figures from either side.

U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed scepticism about the death toll provided by the Palestinians, stating that he has “no confidence in the number.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the U.S. has expressed deep concern over Biden’s comments on the Gaza death toll and called on him to apologize.

Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas terrorists, the ruling authority in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion, but details on the timing and scale of the operation have not been disclosed.

Israeli tanks and troops have been massing along the border with Gaza, and Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists. International pressure is mounting to delay any invasion of Gaza, particularly due to concerns over the safety of hostages. More than half of the estimated 220 hostages held by Hamas reportedly have foreign passports from 25 different countries, with many believed to hold dual Israeli nationality.