RAFAH: The Israeli military announced it was stepping up its bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza Saturday (Oct 21) just hours after the first aid trucks arrived from Egypt bringing desperately needed relief to civilians in the war-torn enclave.
The military said it aimed to reduce the risks its troops would face as they enter Gaza in the next phase of the war it launched on Hamas after the militant group carried out the deadliest attack in Israel's history on Oct 7.
Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials say will begin"soon". "Gaza is densely populated, the enemy is preparing a lot of things there - but we are also preparing for them," Halevi said.The crossing - the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel - closed again after the trucks passed.
But a Hamas spokesman said"even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's requirements, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. "Nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians," he stressed. Instead, the Egyptian hosts released a statement - drafted with the approval of Arab delegates - criticising world leaders for seeking to"manage the conflict and not end it permanently".
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