The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday evening that its “ground forces” would “expand” the “offensive activities” of recent days, marked by limited incursions into the Gaza Strip with tanks and troops to attack Hamas targets. The terror group responded by saying the “resistance is prepared.” Information about the expansion of the offensive, raised by IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari, came as the United Nations General Assembly prepared to adopt a resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza. And when the European Union had already asked for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in the conflict.
“In recent hours we have increased the number of attacks in Gaza. The air force largely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructures, in a very significant way. In continuation of the offensive activities we have carried out in recent days, ground forces are expanding ground activities. this evening”, wrote Hagari on Twitter (renamed X), after giving a press conference. “The IDF is working vigorously in all dimensions to achieve war goals,” he added.
The announcement came after an increase in bombings, to which Hamas responded by launching more rockets against Israel. By early evening, there were indications that telephone and internet connections had been cut in the area, with Hamas accusing Israel of “committing massacres”. Faced with the announcement of the expansion of the offensive, However, Hamas said that “the resistance” was “prepared” and warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “the remains of its soldiers will be swallowed up by the land of Gaza.”
Previously, Hamas had also accused Israel of “paving the way for a new massacre against” the Palestinians, after Hagari accused the terrorist group of “waging the war from the hospitals” in Gaza. At issue is the alleged evidence he provided that his militants were operating out of Shifa Hospital, the largest in the enclave, and were even hiding fuel there. Something Hamas denied.
Three weeks after Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, which killed 1,400 people in Israel, the promised ground offensive in Gaza seemed imminent. This is after days of continuous bombing, which has caused more than 7,000 deaths on Palestinian territory, according to reports from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza.
The intensification of Israeli actions came after progress in negotiations over a possible ceasefire and the release of more than 200 hostages the terrorist group took to Gaza. Al Jazeera had previously said the negotiations, brokered by Qatar, were “progress and at an advanced stage”. After the IDF announcement, officials told CNN that negotiations continued despite everything.
Diplomacy
As sirens sounded in the Gaza Strip and Israel at the United Nations, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated to the General Assembly that there is “no justification for terror” by Hamas. But he also emphasized that “the lives of Palestinians must be protected,” explaining that “the US has made it clear in public and private conversations that Israel is exercising its right and even its responsibility to defend its people against the terrorist group, but He must do this under the rules of war.”
Thomas-Greenfield, as Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan had done the day before, criticized the text of the resolution being voted on – drafted by Jordan on behalf of the Arab countries. The diplomat said two words were missing: Hamas and hostages – despite recognizing the need for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all citizens “illegally detained”. Yet he argued that “these are malicious omissions and conceal and reinforce Hamas’s brutality,” claiming that “no member state should allow this to happen.” The US therefore supported an amendment to the text to correct these “glaring omissions”, but this was not adopted.
In the General Assembly, unlike what happens in the Security Council, no one has a veto. Resolutions (and amendments) require the support of two-thirds of Member States to be adopted, but are not binding. The amendment had only 88 votes in favor (including Portugal), 55 against and 23 abstentions.
Jordan’s resolution called for a “humanitarian ceasefire”, with an initial version calling for an “immediate ceasefire”. The text condemned “all acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks,” but made no mention of Hamas. The resolution it was approved with 120 votes in favor (including from Portugal), 14 against and 45 abstentions.
The European Union also had problems reaching consensus on the language. Ultimately, the leaders of the 27 called for the implementation of “humanitarian corridors” and the adoption of “breaks for humanitarian needs.” The original draft used the singular: “humanitarian pause”. Despite this being the consensus, both French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for a “humanitarian truce”.
Source: DN
