Three days after the first surprise attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, the number of deaths increases. More than 700 Israelis and 413 Palestinians were killed according to provisional reports from local authorities.
Seeking to regain control, the Israeli army struck more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip last night, it announced. For their part, the United States announced the sending of a first aid package this Monday, October 9.
500 targets hit
“More than 500 targets” of Hamas in power in Gaza and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were hit overnight from Sunday to Monday by airstrikes and artillery fire in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army announced. “During the night, fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck more than 500 targets of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists,” the army said in a statement.
Israel still trying to save its hostages
The Israeli army is working to rescue the Israeli hostages who are still in Gaza and evacuate all the residents of the region. Seeking to regain control after this large-scale surprise attack – by land, air, sea – in the middle of Shabbat, the weekly Jewish rest, Israeli forces continue to hunt down Hamas members in southern Israel where they have massed 100 000 reservists according to an army spokesperson. They also continue their airstrikes against targets in Gaza, where more buildings have been destroyed.
“The enemy is still on the ground” in Israel, “we are strengthening our forces especially near Gaza and cleaning the area,” the Israeli army spokesperson also declared on Sunday evening, promising to hunt down “the terrorists wherever they are.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, warned of a “long and difficult” war. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since the start of the attack and 2,150 have been injured, the Israeli army announced in a new report published Monday morning.
A first package of American aid to Israel
The United States began on Sunday to send military aid to Israel with new munitions and to bring its carrier strike group closer to the Mediterranean, marking rapid support for their historic ally surprised by attacks by Palestinian Hamas.
In a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden announced that “additional aid for the Israeli armed forces is now on its way to Israel and more will follow in the coming days,” according to a statement of the White House.
“Several American citizens” were killed in this offensive, a spokesperson for the American National Security Council said on Sunday. The US president pledged “full support for his government and the Israeli people following a horrific and unprecedented assault by Hamas terrorists,” the executive added.
The first package of military aid “will begin shipping today and will arrive in the coming days,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
Oil prices soar due to offensive
Oil prices soared by more than 4% on Monday after this surprise offensive which raises concerns about its consequences in terms of supplies from the region rich in black gold.
The price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea jumped 4.7% to $86.65. As for a barrel of American West Texas Intermediate (WTI), it was up 4.5% to $88.39 at the start of trading on Asian markets.
“What is key for markets is whether the conflict remains contained or spreads to other regions, particularly Saudi Arabia,” said Brian Martin and Daniel Hynes analysts at ANZ. “At least initially, markets seem to think that the situation will remain limited in scope, duration and impact on oil prices. But greater volatility can be expected.”
United Nations concerned about access to food in Gaza
The World Food Program (WFP) is “deeply concerned” about the difficulties in accessing basic food products in areas affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, particularly the Gaza Strip, the UN agency said on Sunday. In a statement, the Rome-based WFP said it was “deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Israel and the State of Palestine and the impact of this conflict on the affected populations.”
“As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face increasing difficulties in accessing basic food items. Distribution networks are disrupted and food production seriously affected by the hostilities “, underlines the PAM.
This UN organization, which claims to have food stocks ready to be distributed to people displaced or in shelters, “calls for secure and free humanitarian access to affected areas, calling on all parties to respect the principles of humanitarian law.