Israel's Troops On Standby, Awaiting Political Nod For Gaza Ground Offensive | Top Developments

With more than one million Gaza residents forced from their homes, Israel stands ready for a ground assault following an unprecedented series of attacks by Hamas, a Palestinian group. Israeli troops are currently awaiting political go-ahead to launch a ground invasion.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a summons to over 350,000 persons, and a significant number eagerly responded and enlisted. The majority of reservists were already within Israel when the call was made, marking the most extensive mandatory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Hamas took Israel by surprise last weekend with attacks targeting Israeli civilians. In retaliation, Israel initiated airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and suspended the supply of food and electricity to the region.

Here are the Latest Developments:

• Israeli forces, with the support of an increasing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and conducted drills in preparation for a comprehensive campaign to dismantle the militant group. Despite a week of intense airstrikes that devastated entire neighborhoods, they were unable to quell the rocket attacks by militants into Israel.
• US President Joe Biden US President Joe Biden said the need for both addressing the situation in Gaza and pursuing a "path to a Palestinian state." He cautioned against a long-term Israeli presence in Gaza, highlighting that reoccupation would be a "significant error."
• Fresh airstrikes reverberated through the Gaza Strip, illuminating the night sky as the Israel-Hamas conflict entered its 10th day on Monday.
• Joe Biden contemplated a trip to Israel while reiterating his concerns about an extended Israeli presence in Gaza. Nevertheless, there were no official announcements regarding his travel plans. A spokesperson for the National Security Council clarified that the White House had no scheduled trip to disclose. During an interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes," Biden stressed his belief that Israel would adhere to the rules of warfare, ensuring access to medicine, food, and water for innocent civilians. He also expressed his view that Israel should not maintain long-term control over the territory, proposing instead that it be governed by a "Palestinian authority." He noted that Hamas and its extremist factions did not represent the entirety of the Palestinian people.
• This interview was broadcast on Sunday night as the Israeli Defense Forces prepared for a ground offensive in Gaza, prompting hundreds of thousands of residents to flee southward. The mass exodus raised concerns about an impending humanitarian crisis. Medics in Gaza issued warnings that thousands could lose their lives as hospitals, inundated with wounded individuals, faced severe shortages of fuel and essential supplies. The besieged population struggled to find food, water, and safety in anticipation of an Israeli ground operation.
• At the same time, hostilities escalated along Israel's border with Lebanon, with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and anti-tank missiles, prompting Israeli airstrikes and shelling in response. The Israeli military also reported an attack on one of its border posts, resulting in casualties on both sides of the border.
• On Sunday, an Israeli drone fired two missiles in southern Lebanon, near the town of Kfar Kila, as reported by the state-run National News Agency. Hezbollah stated that it launched rockets towards an Israeli military position in the northern border town of Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling, which had claimed the life of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. A spokesperson for Hezbollah, Rana Sahili, characterized the heightened fighting as a "warning" and clarified that it did not signify Hezbollah's decision to enter the conflict.
• While Hamas encouraged people to remain in their homes, over 600,000 individuals evacuated the Gaza City area, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman. Iran issued a warning to Israel of potential escalation if it did not cease its actions against the Palestinians, with the country's foreign minister mentioning the readiness of other regional parties to act, as reported by the semi-official Fars News Agency.
• Egypt intensified diplomatic efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressing his view that Israel's bombardment was disproportionate during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was set to return to Israel on Monday, extending his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East by an additional day. A group of US senators planned to travel to the Middle East to encourage talks on normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as announced by Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina.
• Notably, The Times of Israel reported that the Palestinian Authority's mouthpiece, Wafa, had seemingly removed a portion of a statement in which President Mahmoud Abbas criticized Hamas. The initial report from Wafa had quoted Abbas as stating that Hamas's policies and actions did not represent the Palestinian people and that the Palestine Liberation Organisation was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian population.