Last updated: 31.12.2023, 05:04 a.m.
CommentsPrint Share
Smoke rises over Khan Yunis after Israeli attacks. © Mohammed Dahman/AP/dpa
The Gaza war continues to rage with enormous intensity at the turn of the year. The destruction in the narrow coastal strip is enormous. Israel's government, however, will not be dissuaded from its course. The overview.
Tel Aviv/Gaza - Almost three months after the start of the Gaza war, Israel's army continues its intensified attacks in the heavily bombed coastal strip and reports successes. The troops have now stormed the headquarters of the Islamist Hamas in Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on Saturday evening. It also housed the terrorist organization's intelligence headquarters.
"More than 8000,<> terrorists have already been eliminated" in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, according to his office. This information could not be independently verified.
Israel's Army: Fighting in the North Against Hamas' Last Stronghold
The armed forces say they are currently concentrating primarily on the south of the coastal area, including the city of Khan Yunis, and on the central Gaza Strip. Israel suspects that the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia Sinwar, is hiding in the underground tunnels under Khan Yunis. "We are intensifying the fight against Hamas," Netanyahu said. Meanwhile, in the north, Israel's army says it is in the process of exercising complete control over the area. They are now concentrating on Hamas' last remaining stronghold in the city of Gaza, the Tufah neighborhood, army spokesman Hagari said.
Destruction on a massive scale
Israel's weeks of bombardment have wreaked havoc on the cordoned-off coastal strip, which is barely larger than the city of Munich. As the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Israel's army had dropped 29,000 bombs by mid-December alone. Almost 70 percent of the 439,000 houses and apartments were damaged or destroyed. The industrial zone in the north has also been almost completely destroyed, it said, citing an analysis by the World Bank.
"The word 'Gaza' will go down in history like Dresden and other famous cities that were bombed," the newspaper quoted Robert Pape, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, as saying. In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation and the high number of civilian casualties, Israel has recently come under increasing international criticism. But the government remains tough. "Hamas will be defeated," Netanyahu said, quoting the words of army chief of staff Herzi Halevi: "The war will continue for many months."
Israel's head of government rejects resignation
After a year in office, however, Netanyahu is also under intense domestic pressure. Among his own population, the head of government is met with mistrust. According to polls, the majority of Israelis want him to step down after the end of the Gaza war at the latest. However, Netanyahu refused to resign on Saturday. "The only thing I will resign from is Hamas. That's what I'm dealing with," he said, according to the Times of Israel.
My news
Heating and refuelling are becoming more expensive – but climate money from the traffic lights could wobbleread
Heil's Citizens' Allowance Push for Work Refuseniks: Aiwanger Waddles "Next Smoke Candle of the Traffic Light"
Not only "Novocherkassk" hit? Another ship probably sunk – Russia reactsread
Russian missile in Polish airspace? Warsaw warns Putinread
Why Ukraine is bracing for a political disaster in 2024read
Thousands of demonstrators demand new elections in Serbia – and paralyze Belgrade
Many people accuse the Israeli leader of not having admitted any personal responsibility for the fact that the Hamas massacre on October 7 could have happened in Israel. It was the worst massacre in Israel's history, with 1200,240 dead. Around 130 people were deported to Gaza. According to Israeli information, almost <> hostages are still being held there.
Israel's military began massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in response to the raid. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, 21,672 people have been killed so far. No distinction is made between civilians and combatants. The figure cannot be independently verified.
Palestinian Terrorist Group: Hostage Killed in Airstrike
According to a Palestinian terrorist organization, one of the hostages still held in Gaza was killed in an airstrike. Earlier, Israel's army tried to free the Israeli soldier, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said on Saturday. The attempt had failed. The information could not be independently verified. Israel's army declined to comment.
Another exchange of fire also on Israel's border with Lebanon
Meanwhile, the army also ended a large-scale attack on targets of the Hezbollah militia on Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Saturday, the spokesman said. In the process, three "terrorist cells were eliminated". The army will continue to attack Hezbollah military positions in southern Lebanon.
"The southern region of Lebanon will not go back to what it once was," Hagari said. During the course of Saturday, several rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel. 80 percent of Hezbollah's rockets fell on Lebanese territory. This, too, could not be independently verified.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been repeated confrontations between Israel's army and Hezbollah on the border. There were deaths and injuries on both sides. It is the most serious escalation since the second Lebanon war in 2006. Hezbollah has ties to Hamas in Gaza, but is considered more powerful. It is also considered the most important non-state ally of Israel's arch-enemy Iran.
Israel hopes for Germany's help
Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for support in keeping the Hezbollah militia away from Israel's border. "The State of Israel cannot come to terms with such a threat and Germany, together with the international community, must play an important role in ensuring that this threat is eliminated," Gantz wrote on Platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
Another missile attack by the Houthis
Meanwhile, Israel's main ally in the south of the Red Sea says it has again intercepted two rockets fired by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. The U.S. Navy responded to a call for help from a Danish container ship that had previously been hit by a missile, the responsible regional command said on Sunday morning on X. However, the ship is reportedly seaworthy and no injuries have been reported.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes for world trade. They are also attacking Israel directly with rockets.
What will be important on Sunday
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic. Nevertheless, Israel's army continues to intensify its attacks in the area. Dpa