The pace of Palestinian civilians fleeing the combat zone in northern Gaza has picked up as Israel’s air and ground campaign there intensifies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday (November 8) that about 15,000 people fled on Tuesday, compared to 5,000 on Monday and 2,000 on Sunday.The Israeli military has said that its ground forces are now fighting in “the depths” of Gaza City. The comments signalled a new stage by the Israeli military as it moves in toward what it says is the headquarters and stronghold of the Hamas militant group. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli ground forces “are located right now in a ground operation in the depths of Gaza City and putting great pressure on Hamas”.On the other hand, Israel’s wartime security Cabinet will meet late Wednesday in the West Bank offices of the military’s Central Command “due to warnings by security officials about the potential for a serious escalation in violence” in the territory, the Ynet website reported, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.Meanwhile, top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel's right to self-defence and calling for “humanitarian pauses” to speed aid to desperate Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.In a statement, the nations sought to balance criticism of Hamas' attacks against Israel and a push for “urgent action” to help civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave in need of food, water, medical care and shelter. Earlier on Tuesday (November 7), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel was making great progress in its war, saying that the army has killed thousands of Hamas fighters.Follow this space for more updates:
The pace of Palestinian civilians fleeing the combat zone in northern Gaza has picked up as Israel’s air and ground campaign there intensifies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday (November 8) that about 15,000 people fled on Tuesday, compared to 5,000 on Monday and 2,000 on Sunday.The Israeli military has said that its ground forces are now fighting in “the depths” of Gaza City. The comments signalled a new stage by the Israeli military as it moves in toward what it says is the headquarters and stronghold of the Hamas militant group. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli ground forces “are located right now in a ground operation in the depths of Gaza City and putting great pressure on Hamas”.On the other hand, Israel’s wartime security Cabinet will meet late Wednesday in the West Bank offices of the military’s Central Command “due to warnings by security officials about the potential for a serious escalation in violence” in the territory, the Ynet website reported, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.Meanwhile, top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel's right to self-defence and calling for “humanitarian pauses” to speed aid to desperate Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.In a statement, the nations sought to balance criticism of Hamas' attacks against Israel and a push for “urgent action” to help civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave in need of food, water, medical care and shelter. Earlier on Tuesday (November 7), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel was making great progress in its war, saying that the army has killed thousands of Hamas fighters.Follow this space for more updates: