Israel strikes Gaza, Syria and West Bank as war against Hamas threatens to ignite other fronts

RAFAH – Israeli warplanes struck goals throughout Gaza in a single day and into Sunday, as smartly as two airports in Syria and a mosque within the occupied West Bank allegedly utilized by militants, as the two-week-old war with Hamas threatened to spiral right into a broader struggle.

Israel has traded hearth with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant team on a near-daily foundation for the reason that war started, and tensions are hovering within the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the place Israeli forces have battled militants in refugee camps and performed two airstrikes in contemporary days.

For days, Israel has appeared to be at the verge of launching a ground offensive in Gaza as a part of its reaction to Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 rampage. Tanks and tens of hundreds of troops have massed on the border, and Israeli leaders have spoken of an undefined subsequent level in operations.

But the army recognizes there are nonetheless loads of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza regardless of a sweeping evacuation order, which might complicate any flooring assault. And the danger of triggering a broader war with Hamas’ allies in Lebanon and Syria may also give them pause.

On Saturday, 20 vans of support have been allowed to input Gaza from Egypt during the Rafah crossing, the primary time the rest has long past into the territory since Israel imposed an entire siege two weeks in the past.

Aid employees stated it used to be a ways too little to deal with the spiraling humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the place part the territory’s 2.3 million other folks have fled their houses. Hospitals full of sufferers and displaced individuals are working low on scientific provides and gas for turbines, forcing medical doctors to carry out surgical procedures with sewing needles, using kitchen vinegar as disinfectant, and with out anesthesia.

Palestinians sheltering in U.N.-run colleges and tent camps are working low on meals and ingesting grimy water. The territory’s sole energy plant close down over per week in the past, inflicting a territory-wide blackout and crippling water and sanitation programs. The U.N. humanitarian company stated circumstances of hen pox, scabies and diarrhea are on the upward push as a result of the loss of blank water.

Gaza’s Hamas-run Interior Ministry reported heavy Israeli airstrikes around the territory in a single day into Sunday, together with southern spaces the place Israel had advised Palestinians to search shelter.

Late Saturday, an airstrike hit a restaurant within the southern the town of Khan Younis the place displaced other folks had accrued to fee their telephones. The within sight Nasser Hospital stated 12 other folks have been killed and 75 wounded.

Israel’s army has stated it’s hanging Hamas individuals and installations, however does now not goal civilians. Palestinian militants have persevered every single day rocket assaults, with Hamas pronouncing it focused Tel Aviv early Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet overdue Saturday to speak about the predicted flooring invasion, Israeli media reported. An army spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated Israel deliberate to step up airstrikes beginning Saturday as preparation for the “next stages of the war.”

An Israeli flooring attack would most likely lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on each side. More than 1,400 other folks in Israel had been killed within the war — most commonly civilians slain all the way through the preliminary Hamas assault. At least 210 other folks have been captured and dragged again to Gaza, together with males, ladies, youngsters and older adults. Two Americans were released on Friday in what Hamas stated used to be a humanitarian gesture.

More than 4,300 other folks had been killed in Gaza, in accordance to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That contains the disputed toll from a clinic explosion.

Syrian state media in the meantime reported that Israeli airstrikes have focused the global airports within the capital, Damascus, and the northern town of Aleppo. It stated the strikes killed one particular person and broken the runways, placing them out of carrier.

Israel has performed a number of strikes in Syria, together with at the airports, for the reason that war started. Israel hardly ever recognizes person strikes, however says it acts to save you Hezbollah and other militant teams from bringing in hands from their patron, Iran, which additionally helps Hamas.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah stated six of its fighters were killed Saturday, and the gang’s deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Kassem, warned that Israel would pay a prime worth if it begins a flooring offensive within the Gaza Strip. Israel struck Hezbollah goals early Sunday in reaction to rocket hearth, the army stated.

Israel additionally introduced evacuation plans for every other 14 communities close to the border with Lebanon. Kiryat Shmona, with a inhabitants of greater than 20,000 other folks, used to be advised to evacuate remaining week.

In the occupied West Bank, dozens of Palestinians had been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and assaults by means of Jewish settlers. Israeli forces have closed crossings into the territory and checkpoints between towns, measures they are saying are geared toward fighting assaults. Israel has arrested loads of Palestinians since Oct. 7, basically suspected Hamas individuals.

The the world over identified Palestinian Authority administers portions of the West Bank and cooperates with Israel on safety, however it’s deeply unpopular and has been the target of violent Palestinian protests.

Israeli forces killed no less than 5 other folks early Sunday within the West Bank, in accordance to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Two have been killed in an airstrike on a mosque within the the town of Jenin, which has noticed heavy gunbattles between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops over the last yr.

The Israeli army stated the mosque compound belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants who had performed a number of assaults in contemporary months and have been making plans every other one.

Sunday’s fatalities introduced the loss of life toll within the West Bank to 90 Palestinians for the reason that war broke out on Oct. 7, in accordance to the Health Ministry. Most seem had been killed all the way through preventing with Israeli forces or violent protests.

Thirteen Palestinians, together with 5 minors, and a member of Israel’s paramilitary Border Police have been killed remaining week in a struggle in a refugee camp within the West Bank the town of Tulkarem, wherein Israel additionally introduced an airstrike.

In Gaza, the Israeli army stated the humanitarian state of affairs used to be “under control” as support employees known as for the hole of a round the clock support hall.

The U.N. humanitarian company, recognized as OCHA, stated the put across that entered Saturday carried about 4% of a mean day’s imports ahead of the war and “a fraction of what is needed after 13 days of complete siege.” It is looking for 100 vans an afternoon to input. Huge amounts of support had been accrued close to the Egyptian aspect of the crossing, however there was no phrase on when extra may input.

President Joe Biden stated the U.S., which has labored with other mediators to succeed in an settlement on Rafah, “remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas.”

In a remark, he stated the U.S. would paintings to stay Rafah open and let U.S. electorate depart Gaza. But loads of overseas passport holders who had accrued on the crossing on Saturday have been not able to go away after the help convoy entered.

American citizen Dina al- Khatib stated she and her circle of relatives have been determined to get out. “It’s not like previous wars,” she stated. “There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing.”

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press newshounds Amy Teibel in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this file.