With Israel’s threat of full scale ground invasion on Gaza and Hamas refusing to let go of the hostages under their capture from the very first day of the “deadly escalation’ that has started with “unprecedented” attack on Israel from Hamas militant group, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman and discussed about the “military escalation” and the “need to find ways to stop the military operations that have claimed the lives of innocent people”.

Mr. Salman “stressed” the dire need to stop the escalation and “ask for the respect for International humanitarian law”. The kingdom also demanded to “lift the siege on Gaza” and underscored the significance of letting the people of Palestine have access to their “legitimate rights”.

 

HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with U.S. Secretary of State @SecBlinken, with whom he discussed the current military escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and the need to find ways to stop the military operations that have claimed the lives of innocent people. pic.twitter.com/lEi5bymYly

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) October 15, 2023

Taking to X (formerly twitter), Secretary Blinken wrote he met with the Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman and “discussed the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel”. Mr. Blinken asseverated on United States’ “unwavering focus on halting the terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and prevent the conflict from spreading”, spokesperson Mathew Miller said.

 

.@SecBlinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. https://t.co/dJy8wl81pv

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) October 15, 2023

The “war” is still escalating with Gaza being pummelled to ground and the occupation soldiers at the border waiting for the green signal to unleash the ground invasion on the Gaza Strip. At least 11 media persons were killed during the deadly air strikes. The latest video footage released by Israel shows the airstrikes in Gaza Strip that Israel has practised over the past 24chour. Al Jazeera said over 10,500 housing units in the Gaza Strip has been completely destroyed, according to the Under Secretary of the Palestinian Ministry.

 

🚨FOOTAGE: Israeli Forces Release Footage of Airstrikes in the Gaza Strip Over the Past 24 Hours. pic.twitter.com/CbD5ORuaUb

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 16, 2023

Prior to the ground invasion, the National Emergency Management Authority of the Ministry of Defence and the Israel Defence Ministry has released an announcement of the “implementation of plan to evacuate the resident of northern Israel who live up to two kilometres from the Lebanese border” to guesthouses funded by the State.

 

Joint Ministry of Defense and IDF announcement:

The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) of the Ministry of Defense and the IDF are announcing the implementation of a plan to evacuate residents of northern Israel who live in the area up to 2 kilometers from the…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023

Earlier, there had been allegations that the fire erupted at Tripoli in Lebanon, which is very far from Israel, was due to the air strike from Isarel.

 

🚨BREAKING: Following multiple reports, we were finally able to confirm this fire to be located in Tripoli, Lebanon.

We do not know if this an Israeli airstrike. If it is, it would signal a SIGNIFICANT escalation, as Tripoli is in North Lebanon, very far from the Israeli border. pic.twitter.com/C3fzqL0uay

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 16, 2023

The allegations were not clarified yet, but if that as the case, the “war” would be stepping out from its current equation and the conflagration could go out of control.