The Israeli army, which has intensified its strikes on the Gaza Strip, has also increased the number of its troops entering the Palestinian enclave, its spokesperson announced on Sunday October 29. “The situation in Gaza is becoming more desperate by the hour. I regret that instead of a sorely needed humanitarian pause, supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations”reacted the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres. “The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes”he pleaded, while the Palestinian enclave is subject to a “total seat” for more than two weeks. Follow our live stream.
Humanitarian aid will be “increased” in the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army called the Gazans “to temporarily move south of Wadi Gaza, to a safer area where they can receive water, food and medicine”. The IDF claimed that as of Sunday, “Humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip, led by Egypt and the United States, would be increased.”
The toll continues to rise in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian enclave’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 8,000 people were killed and more than 18,000 injured in Israeli strikes. For its part, the Israeli army assures that more than 1,400 people died in the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Communications being restored in Gaza. The intensification of bombings coincided with a communications and internet outage, further complicating the task of humanitarians. The network was being restored as of Sunday morning, monitoring organization NetBlocks said. An AFP collaborator in Gaza City confirmed that he could access the internet and the mobile network, and had managed to contact people in the south of the territory.