By Israel’s military operation in Gaza enters third stage, PM says
Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to attacks by the radical Palestinian group Hamas has entered its third stage which includes expanding ground operations in the enclave, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“We are in the midst of the war. We have set the clear goal of destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. We are doing this systematically,” the press service quoted him as saying. “The first blocking stage is over. The 2nd stage, pounding them from the air is continuing all the time. The 3rd stage – the IDF has expanded its ground incursion inside the Gaza Strip. It is doing so in measured, very powerful, steps making methodical, step-by-step progress,” Netanyahu explained.
Over 800,000 civilians have left the northern areas of the Gaza Strip, Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said at a briefing. “We are happy to see that more than 800,000 have evacuated from the northern part, from the main combat area,” he noted. Humanitarian assistance continues to be delivered to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, Conricus said, adding that there was food and water in the south of the enclave. “As days go by, I think we will be ramping up our facilitation of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip,” he added.
On October 13, Israel informed the United Nations that 1.1 mln Palestinians should relocate to the south of the Gaza Strip within 24 hours. The Israeli army explained the recommendation saying that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under civilian buildings in Gaza. Hamas, however, urged Gaza residents to ignore Israel’s demand, and asked the UN to take measures to prevent people from being forced from their homes.
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