As Israel is preparing for ‘next stage of combat’, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday said its troops and tanks briefly entered north Gaza in the overnight ‘targeted raids’.
While speaking at his presidential palace in Ankara, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan termed the attacks on Gaza as ‘barbaric’. “Nobody should expect Turkey to remain silent in the face of the violence in Gaza,” said Erdogan.
There was no difference between Gazan, Palestinian, Israeli, and Syrian children in the eyes of Turkey, he added.
Erdogan also said it would intensify its efforts with Egypt to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He also criticised the West countries for ‘unconditional’ support for Israeli attacks. “Western countries were not adhering to international law in Gaza because the blood spilled is Muslim’s blood,” he added.
According to Gaza Health Ministry, over 7,000 Palestinians, including 2,913 children were killed in the airstrikes since the Hamas attack on October 7.
In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.
Also, tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border has intensified further with both Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants exchanging strikes. Lebanese media on Thursday said Israel conducted airstrikes and drone attacks early morning in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Israel have clashed since a day after the Israel-Hamas war erupted following Hamas' deadly attack on Israel.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, Florida's university system, working with Governor Ron DeSantis ordered colleges to shut down a pro-Palestinian student organisation, marking the first US state to outlaw the group whose national leadership backed Hamas's attack on Israel.
UN steps up appeal for fuel in Gaza
The United Nations providing aid to Palestinians warned it may have to shut down its operations shortly if no fuel reaches the enclave amid an increasingly desperate need for shelter, water, food and medical services.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it urgently required fuel to maintain life-saving humanitarian operations in Gaza.
"If fuel is not received into Gaza, UNRWA will be forced to significantly reduce and in some cases bring its humanitarian operations across the Gaza Strip to a halt. The coming 24 hours are very critical," it said.
Israel has refused to let in fuel saying it could be seized by Hamas.
"In the last 24 hours another three UNRWA staff members have been killed, bringing the total to 38 staff killed," said UNRWA.
