Gaza : Israeli military tanks circled around Gaza border signaling imminent ground war and advanced its infantry to assault positions to reflect the immediateness of it. The Israeli military said all three forces namely army, air force and navy would launch simultaneous strikes.
At the first meeting of newly-formed War Cabinet held at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the imminent war would begin shortly, asserting that, Hamas would be wholly eliminated.
The Israeli army rejected potential for finding a political solution. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who left Israel for talks with Arab countries will return to Tel Aviv today, Monday. Meanwhile, America’s second carrier strike group and Air force fighter jets is headed to eastern Mediterranean sea as Israel prepares to expand its Gaza operations.
The Pentagon clarified US will not participate directly in the war and that the presence of two of its Navy's most powerful vessels in the Mediterranean is to thwart Iran and Iranian proxies in the region such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
With hundreds of thousands of combat-ready troops positioned along Gaza border , Palestinians en masse are fleeing to South Gaza where Israel asked them to go. However, Israel forces are pounding the southern region as well triggering wild panic among those lodged there. . Israeli army killed Bilal al Kedra, the Hamas leader in southern Gaza.
Israel asked Kuwaiti staff at hospital along Rafah border to leave. 2329 Palestinians including 724 children have been reported killed so far. 1300 people including army men were killed in Israel.
Ready for war at all places including Middle East, Say Israel
Israel also indicated it was ready to expand the war to other parts including the Middle East to ensure safety for its land. The announcement came from Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari who said, Israeli is closely monitoring surroundings and is strong enough to take on any situation. The military announcement heightened fears that the war could spread beyond.
