► No respite in the bombings
The Israeli army continued to bombard the Gaza Strip on Saturday after a night of violent clashes between soldiers and Palestinian Hamas fighters and strikes of unprecedented intensity since the start of the war.
Hundreds of buildings were “completely destroyed” in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments overnight, Palestinian Civil Defense said on Saturday.
The Israeli army announced earlier in the morning that it had “hit 150 underground targets” in the north of the Gaza Strip during a night of very intense bombardment. Israel is convinced that the Palestinian Islamist movement directs and organizes its operations from a gigantic network of underground tunnels.
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“Overnight, IDF warplanes struck 150 underground targets in the northern Gaza Strip, including tunnels used by terrorists, underground combat sites and other underground infrastructure. Several Hamas terrorists were killed »said the statement issued after a night of intense Israeli raids against the territory.
The Israeli army also claims to have killed a Hamas official who was in charge “paramotors, drones, detection equipment and air defense”.
“Asem Abou Rakaba took part in organizing the massacre in communities bordering the Gaza Strip on October 7”, “he led terrorists who infiltrated Israel with paramotors and was responsible for drone attacks on IDF surveillance posts”specifies the press release.
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Ground battles were underway. “We are facing Israeli ground incursions in Beit Hanoun (north) and al-Boureij (center). Heavy fighting is underway.”, said Hamas’ military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Friday evening in a statement. An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed to AFP that Israeli forces were operating “inside the Gaza Strip as they did” while leading a raid the night before.
► Internet and communications cut in the Gaza Strip according to Hamas
On Saturday, the Gaza Strip was cut off from the world. Communications and the Internet have been cut in the enclave, according to the Hamas government. This cut risks “serve as a cover for mass atrocities”, warned the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday. Amnesty International says it has lost contact with its staff in Gaza. “This communications blackout means it will be even more difficult to obtain critical information and evidence about the human rights violations and war crimes committed against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and to hear directly from those who are suffering these violations », lamented the NGO. NetBlocks, an Internet access monitoring service, reported a “Collapse of connectivity in the Gaza Strip”.
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►Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asks Israel to “stop this madness”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday asked Israel “to stop this madness immediately” and to put an end to to his attacks » against Gaza in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter). He also invited to a rally organized by his party in Istanbul on Saturday “where we will affirm loud and clear that we stand with the Palestinian people against the persecution of Israel”. The Turkish head of state announced his participation in this meeting. After calling for restraint in the days following the massacre of Israelis perpetrated by Hamas, the Turkish president changed his tone and denounced a “genocide” after last week’s strike on a hospital in Gaza which he immediately attributed to Israel – without ever returning to it.
► Washington says it is in favor of “humanitarian break”
The United States declared itself in favor on Friday of a “humanitarian break” in order to let aid into the Gaza Strip.
“Allowing only a handful of convoys to enter Gaza is indecent”
“We can support humanitarian pauses to let (aid) in, as well as get people out, and that also includes getting gasoline in and restoring power.”White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
► Antonio Gutteres fears “an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering”
“Without fundamental change, the people of Gaza will suffer an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering”alerted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday.
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“Everyone must take responsibility. This is a moment of truth, History will judge us”he said in a statement read by his spokesperson, stressing that “The humanitarian system in Gaza faces total collapse, with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians”.
► Emmanuel Macron calls for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Friday October 27 for a “humanitarian truce” in the war between Israel and Hamas for “organize protection” civilian populations in the Gaza Strip, following a European summit in Brussels.
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“We fully recognize the right and the legitimate desire to fight terrorism. We are ready to help. But we consider that the complete blockade, the indiscriminate bombardment and even more the prospect of a massive land operation are not likely to properly protect the civilian populations (…) A humanitarian truce is today useful to be able to protect those who are on the ground, who have suffered bombings”declared the head of state during a press conference.
He also assured that he wanted to evacuate ” as soon as possible “French nationals in the Gaza Strip.
► The Israeli army accuses Hamas of “waging war from hospitals” in Gaza
The Palestinian Hamas in power in Gaza has denied using hospitals in its war with Israel, as the Israeli army has accused.
“The allegations made by the spokesperson for the enemy’s army are completely unfounded”said Hamas leader Ezzat al-Risheq in a statement, denying in particular that “Hamas leaders are in the basement of al-Shifa hospital”the largest in the Gaza Strip.
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The Israeli army had accused the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas earlier in the day of “waging war from hospitals” from the Gaza Strip.
“There is fuel in hospitals and Hamas uses it for its terrorist infrastructure”further accused the army spokesperson, Daniel Hagari. “Terrorists move freely” in hospitals in the Palestinian territory, he added, repeating the Israeli accusation that Hamas is using the population of Gaza as ” human shield “.
► Nearly 29,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon
Nearly 29,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the start of violence on the border with Israel, according to new figures published Friday by a specialized United Nations agency.
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In a report, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that the escalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border has displaced 28,965 people, mainly in southern Lebanon, which borders Israel. This corresponds to a 37% increase in the number of displaced people, compared to the last IMO report on Tuesday (21,000 displaced people).
► First Red Cross medical team in Gaza since the start of the war
A Red Cross medical team entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since the start of the war, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Friday.
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Accompanying a humanitarian convoy of several aid trucks, this team includes several doctors specializing in war injuries, according to the ICRC.
► Half of Israelis against an immediate ground offensive
Nearly half of Israelis would be opposed to a military ground operation “immediate” in the Gaza Strip, suggests an investigation published Friday by the daily Maariv.
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At the question “Should the army carry out a ground operation in Gaza immediately or should it be better to wait? »49% of those questioned responded that it was necessary to wait compared to 29% of people who believe that this operation should be launched immediately.
Last week, 65% of people surveyed by the same institute said they supported a military invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to Maariv. This previous poll did not focus on the immediate nature or not of this offensive.
► US military strikes two Iranian Revolutionary Guard facilities in Syria
The United States carried out strikes Thursday against two facilities used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and “affiliated groups” in eastern Syria, announced US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin.
“These self-defense and precision strikes are a response to a series of ongoing, and mostly failed, attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias”since October 17, Lloyd Austin said in a press release.