Israeli army calls in 3 lakh reservists, Hamas surprised by extent of gains: Israel-Palestine conflict enters Day 4

Israeli army calls in reservists

The Israeli military warned the over 2 million residents of Gaza that they should leave for neighbouring Egypt via the Rafah border crossing while they can, indicating an upcoming severity in retaliatory moves. It added that the Gaza border has been secured and there have been no new infiltrations since Monday.

‘Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out,’ Israel Defence Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said during a call with foreign reporters, reported The Times of Israel. However, Hecht’s office later said, “Clarification: The Rafah crossing was open yesterday, but now it is closed.”

Just to be clear .

I was asked about exit from gaza I said they should check if Rafah is possibly open .
And that I’m not aware if its still open .

The IDF is not in charge of that crossing .

— Lt. Col. Richard Hecht (@LtColRichard) October 10, 2023

The spokesperson said that the military was “laying down infrastructure for further options,” adding, “the scope of this bigger than before and more severe. It is not going to be clean.” (Here’s a primer on Gaza’s 100-year history of war)

The Israel Air Force said that it has flown in “hundreds of IDF soldiers who were abroad” amid the war as local media reported that as many as 3 lakh Israeli reservists have been mobilised in 48 hours. The Air Force took to Twitter to share images of people boarding a military plane, saying it is contributing to “the IDF’s efforts to mobilise additional forces to continue fighting.”

Tonight, IAF transport aircraft (“Karnaf” and “Shimshon”) flew back to Israel hundreds of IDF combatants who were abroad, to take part in Iron Swords War, as part of the IDF’s efforts to concentrate additional forces for continued fighting. pic.twitter.com/46UJT9HYny

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 10, 2023

Death toll at 1,600

At least 1,600 people have been killed so far in the latest conflict, reported the Associated Press, quoting the health agencies of Israel and Palestine.

An Israeli woman react over the body of her relative who was killed by Palestinian armed militants who entered from the Gaza strip, in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP)

Of this, over 900 are Israelis who were either killed during or have succumbed to the injuries caused by Saturday’s attack by Hamas. The number includes 260 people who were attending an open-air party on Saturday and at least 123 Israel Defence Force personnel, as per reports in The Times of Israel. More than 2,000 people have been injured and the condition of several of them is critical, reported local media.

Several foreign nationals too are among those who have been killed, injured or abducted by the Hamas. This includes 18 Thai nationals, 11 Americans, 10 Nepalis, 7 Argentines, 2 French nationals, and one each from Canada, the UK and Cambodia. Many foreigners are feared missing or have been taken hostage, as per media reports. A 41-year-old caregiver from India was injured in the missile attacks in Israel’s Ashkelon neighbourhood — her family in Kerala said she was recovering and is out of danger. Indian Express‘s Shaju Philip has a handy guide on why Israel is an attractive destination for Indian caregivers despite the obvious risks.

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike on the Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP)

In Gaza, the retaliatory airstrikes have claimed the lives of nearly 700 people so far, As many as 790 housing units have been razed and 5,330 others have been severely damaged, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in an update early on Tuesday. It added that three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 4 lakh residents.

Hostage situation ongoing

Around 150 Israelis are believed to be held hostage by Hamas following Saturday’s attack, and the Israel Defence Force (IDF) is in the process of notifying their families, reported local media. The Times of Israel said that the IDF is sending out officials to inform over 100 Israeli families that their relatives are being held in Gaza by Hamas. It added that the number of hostages is estimated to be between 100 and 150.

In response to Israel’s aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas’ armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza “without prior warning,” prompting Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen of warning the group, “This war crime will not be forgiven.”

Hamas surprised by extent of gains

A top member of Hamas leadership said that they were surprised by the extent of gains they made in the attack, dubbed “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” (Al-Aqsa is a holy mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem), and said that the plan was kept secret from everyone except half a dozen people.

Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas’ exiled leadership, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP)

In an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, senior militant group leader Ali Barakeh said, “Only a handful of Hamas commanders knew about the zero hour.” The Hamas leader added that the operation had succeeded beyond their expectation. “We were surprised by this great collapse,” Barakeh told AP. “We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger.”

Barakeh, a member of Hamas’ exiled leadership, said it was planned by around a half dozen top Hamas commanders in Gaza and that even the group’s closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He also rejected allegations that Iran was involved in the attack, but warned that Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah “will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation.”

Netanyahu talks tough

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to ISIS and said that “though Israel did not start this war,” it “will finish it”.

In an address to the nation early on Tuesday morning, Netanyahu said, “Israel is at war. We didn’t want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn’t start this war, Israel will finish it.”

“Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel’s other enemies for decades to come,” he said, adding that the country’s military will go on offensive against Hamas “like never before.”

Netanyahu’s right-wing cabinet, which had been reeling under protests against controversial judicial reforms, had come under criticism for the strategic failure that led to the unprecedented land-air-water attack from the Palestanian militant group Hamas which effectively controls the Gaza Strip. His Justice Minister Yariv Levin has said that a national emergency government needs to be established immediately and the work for the same is in progress.

World reacts

The United States, a close Israel ally, pledged “unwavering” support to Israel and said that it is sending fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance, in addition to moving its warships in the Mediterranean closer to Tel Aviv. President Joe Biden took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a photo of the White House lit up in blue-and-white colours, with the message, “Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with Israel. That will never change.”

Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with Israel.

That will never change. pic.twitter.com/uFhvmXf7bO

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 10, 2023

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a London synagogue on Monday, where he joined the members of the Jewish community for a prayer. Sharing a video of the same on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sunak wrote, “The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists. My message tonight from Finchley United Synagogue where I joined @chiefrabbi in vigil with local communities.”

The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack.

They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters.

They are terrorists.

My message tonight from Finchley United Synagogue where I joined @chiefrabbi in vigil with local communities. pic.twitter.com/7eBJ6catbr

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 9, 2023

Additionally, the two nations also joined Germany, France and Italy to issue a joint statement condemning the “appalling acts of terrorism” by Hamas and extended their “steadfast and united support” to Israel.

The statement by Biden, Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.”

“All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed,” it said.

“Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region. We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,” the statement added.

Uncertainty over EU aid to Palestine

Meanwhile, the fate of Palestinian aid provided by the European Union remains uncertain. In the wake of the attacks, the EU had said that it is suspending aid to Palestinians. However, hours later, it backtracked from the statement, reportedly after EU countries complained the bloc’s executive had overstepped the mark.

The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point.

There can be no business as usual.

As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of EUR 691m
⤵️

— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) October 9, 2023

EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had initially said that it was placing its development aid to Palestine, amounting to around $728 million, under review to ensure they are not being misused. Following this, nations like Spain, Ireland and Luxembourg had said that they did not agree with this decision, with Ireland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying, “Our understanding is that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid.”

European Parliament Member Evin Incir too had criticised Varhelyi’s call, saying that his decision would punish all Palestinians for the actions of the Hamas group. “Some of the money goes through the Palestinian Authority to the people in the country and some goes directly to different actors as civil society organisations. It doesn’t go to Hamas,” Incir said, as per an Al Jazeera report. “And this is something that Commissioner Varheyli knows very well. But he is trying to lie in the face of the European people and trying to connect the EU financial support to Hamas. It doesn’t go there. It goes through the Palestinian Authority.”