The 10th Day: Gaza Low On Supplies, Israel Invasion Looms (Image: Twitter/UNRWA)
Gaza hospitals are desperately low on supplies and are over-occupied by wounded people. Medical professionals alerted that the outnumbering might cause an increase in the death toll as the packed hospitals already ran out of fuel and basic essentials. The coastal Palestinians are already surrounded by the Israeli military and are reportedly struggling for food, and water. A ground invasion and attack from Israel with the artillery and human aid of America is expected to happen any time.
President Joe Biden, as Al Jazeera reports, warned Israel that any occupation of Gaza would be a “big mistake”. But in the meantime America boosted its assistance to Israel, enhanced deployment, and dispatched its second warship to the eastern Mediterranean. The US navy will primarily focus to establish a strong fencing presence that objects Hezbollah, Iran, Egypt, and others from taking advantage of the situation against Israel. The first shipment of additional weaponry arrived already in Israel support.
📍NORFOLK, Va. – The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) departed today on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where it will engage with allies and partners in support of maritime statecraft.
MORE: https://t.co/JZOg7D1YKd pic.twitter.com/WO8Ak0t91U
— U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) October 14, 2023
An advisory has been issued on the anticipated opening of the Rafah Crossing in southern Gaza Strip, saying that the situation at the border gate “will remain fluid and unpredictable”. The border is said to be open from 9am local time on Monday, October 16.
Rafah border crossing: According to media reports, the Rafah crossing will open at 9am local time on October 16. We anticipate that the situation at the Rafah crossing will remain fluid and unpredictable and it is unclear whether, or for how long, travelers will be permitted to… pic.twitter.com/klWEmLt7Ji
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) October 16, 2023
As the Health Ministry of Gaza figures out, at least 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 remains wounded since the fighting erupted on Saturday, October 7. For Israel, more than 1,400 lost their lives, majority are civilians. Around 150 are held hostages by Hamas and Israel has launched search operations to locate them. The count has already surpassed the 2014 Gaza war which lasted over six weeks. The war is the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. It is also the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria, says reports.
مشاهد من اقتحام قوات الاحتلال بأعداد كبيرة لمخيم شعفاط في #القدس المحتلة وشنها حملة دهم واعتقال بحق فلسطينيين#فيديو pic.twitter.com/QX0cxmG9tI
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) October 16, 2023
After calling for full invasion on Gaza through air, sea and land, Israel warns Hezbollah, Lebanese Islamist political/militant group to stay out of the issue instead of calling for “destruction” on the country by intervening. According to Israel, their primary aim is to end the Hamas leadership.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan expressed the kingdom’s categorical rejection of calls for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Saudi Arabia, who presides over the Islamic Summit and the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has extended an invitation to address the escalating military crisis in Gaza and its surrounding areas, along with the deteriorating conditions threatening the lives of civilians and the overall regional security.
The US State Secretary Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing his six-country tour of the Arab nations focusing the prevention of war. US President Joe Biden is also reportedly in plan of a visit to Israel but White House hasn’t provided any official confirmation on the matter. The country also positioned its senior diplomat, David Satterfield (former ambassador to Turkey) as the special envoy of Middle East humanitarian issues.
Met today with UAE President @MohamedBinZayed. I expressed appreciation for the UAE’s leadership in condemning Hamas’ terrorist attacks on civilians and reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between our countries. pic.twitter.com/MyXKPlcxI9
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 14, 2023
Hezbollah, in a statement said that they had fired rockets to an Israeli military position in the northern border town of Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday.
