14-10-2023 : Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli infantrymen stationed outside the Gaza Strip on Saturday, as they made preparations for a potential ground attack. In a video shared by his office, Prime Minister Netanyahu was seen addressing the soldiers, asking, “Are you ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.”
Meanwhile, the six-hour window provided for Gazans to evacuate to the south has ended. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had established two safe routes for civilians to move from the north of the Gaza Strip ahead of a possible attack. These safe routes were along the coast and down the center of the Gaza Strip.
Reportedly, airstrikes were targeting these “safe routes,” rendering them unsafe for civilians attempting to reach secure locations. Thousands are hesitant to leave as the bombing continues in Gaza. The leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, declared their decision to remain on “our land.” Haniyeh emphasized that Palestinians would not leave Gaza or the West Bank to migrate to Egypt.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that they had received an order from Israeli forces earlier that day, instructing them to evacuate Al Quds hospital. However, they could not evacuate safely, as many sick and wounded individuals were still at the hospital.
Medical officials reported that approximately 35,000 people had crowded into the grounds of Gaza City’s main hospital, seeking refuge. Mohammad Abu Selim, the general director of Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, confirmed the massive influx of people seeking shelter within the building.
The possibility of Hezbollah fighters joining the conflict cannot be ignored. Hezbollah remains on high alert along Lebanon’s borders with Israel, continuing missile attacks. Israel views Hezbollah as an immediate threat, estimating that it has around 150,000 rockets and missiles capable of striking any part of Israel. The United States has issued warnings regarding the potential involvement of other players in the Middle East in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called on Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza and stated that Hezbollah has considered all scenarios for a potential war. Amirabdollahian held discussions with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, addressing various scenarios.
On the humanitarian front, the United Nations under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, emphasized the importance of upholding the rules of war at all times. He expressed concern over the safety of civilians in Gaza, who have been bombed while attempting to evacuate, following an evacuation order that left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for safety without a safe destination.
עם הלוחמים שלנו בעוטף עזה, בקו החזית. כולנו מוכנים.
(צילום: אבי אוחיון, לע״מ) pic.twitter.com/TiGzHcWhPK
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 14, 2023
In response to the escalating crisis, the European Commission announced plans to triple humanitarian aid for Gaza. Diplomatic efforts are also underway, with Saudi Arabia calling for an urgent meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the situation in Gaza.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has already resulted in over 3,000 casualties, as per media reports.