Middle East set to erupt into war on three fronts as Israel braces for invasion
The Middle East is on the brink of full-scale war as Israel and Hamas stepped up attacks.
Tel Aviv is poised for a ground offensive on besieged Gaza while Hezbollah threatened from the north. On Wednesday Hamas attacked an Israeli children’s hospital and Gaza was pounded.
There are fears the bloodshed will only get worse with Tel Aviv preparing for a ground offensive and Hezbollah threatening to launch more strikes on Israel from Lebanon and Syria.
Pope Francis called for peace and King Charles branded last week’s Hamas raid on Israel “appalling”. The militant group on Wednesday launched a rocket attack on a children’s hospital in Ashkelon, 45 miles south of Tel Aviv. People were pictured running for cover as the missiles rained down on an array of other targets.
And Israel continued its retaliation strikes on Gaza, even though Hamas are holding an estimated 150 hostages snatched from Israel last week. Entire neighbourhoods were demolished, as hospitals ran low on supplies and Gaza’s only power plant ran out of fuel. Pictures emerged of children left injured by the strikes while others parts of Gaza city under rubble.
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The Israeli blockade of the enclave, condemned by the UN, is only making things worse for the 2.1million people living there in poverty. Saturday’s attack on Be’eri kibbutz in Israel by Hamas sparked the latest bloody conflict. It left 1,200 people dead, including many at a music festival. Officials said 17 Brits are among those missing feared killed.
Rockets fired from the Gaza City (R) being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system (AFP via Getty Images)Ayelet Svatitzky, originally from Wakefield, West Yorks, told how Hamas taunted her by sending pictures of her mother Channah Peri, 79, and brother Nadav Popplewell, 51, being snatched, before killing her other brother Roi, 54. Ayelet, who has lived in Israel with her family for years now, said: “Someone used my mum’s phone to take the pictures of her and my brother, then sent them to me with a message saying: ‘Hamas’.
“That was the last I heard of them. My neighbour saw my mum being taken out. Then Roi, who lives in a different neighbourhood, was found. He was shot dead behind his house.” The death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza has now reached 1,100.
But there appeared to be no let up in sight as defence minister Yoav Gallant said: “We will eliminate anyone who fights us, and use every measure at our disposal.” Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said “Hamas is worse than ISIS”. He shared an image of what appeared to be a child’s bed covered in blood, although there was no location given.
Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8 following a shock land, air and sea assault (AFP via Getty Images)If Israeli launches a ground offensive, it could leave its forces fighting on three fronts with Hamas and heavily-armed Hezbollah along the borders with Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Pope Francis appealed for restraint in the battered region. He said: “The Middle East does not need war but peace, built on justice, dialogue, and the courage of fraternity.”
King Charles offered “thoughts and prayers” for those caught up in the conflict, “particularly those who have lost loved ones”. Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.”
Prince William and Kate also condemned the Hamas attack. Kensington Palace said: “The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded.”
An image was shared by Benjamin Netanyahu of a child's bed covered in bloodA British Airways flight into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport was diverted back to London while on its final descent. All BA flights into Israel have been suspended. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Tel Aviv to underline British support for Israel yesterday. He said: “Terrorism must never be allowed to prevail.”
It came as Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed troops. Tel Aviv confirmed the attack but would not comment on casualties. Ashkelon suffered a heavy barrage from Hamas while nearby Ashdod and Tel Aviv also came under fire. The UN’s World Health Organisation said Gaza’s supplies, pre-positioned for seven hospitals, had already run out amid the flood of wounded.
Doctors Without Borders head of mission in Gaza Matthias Kannes added: “We consumed three weeks’ worth of emergency stock in three days, partly due to 50 patients coming in at once.” With 140 square miles of land, crowded Gaza is smaller than London. But more than 250,000 people have fled their homes in the past few days, the UN said.
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Tens of thousands of people in southern Israel have been evacuated since Sunday.
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