On Monday evening Israel increased the strength of the offensive in Gaza, seeking to take control of the city. According to Israeli media, the armed forces carried out massive air raids, and tanks entered the city center.
Gaza burns – commented the nightly attacks on X Minister of defence Izarel Israel Katz.
The Israeli army orders the evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza. Of the about 1 million inhabitants of the city, it is estimated that about 200 000 have already left their homes, seeking refuge on the coast and in another parts of the city, frequently without clarity where to go.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed that Israel had begun operations in Gaza. At the same time, he pointed out that there was a very limited time for possible agreement with Hamas – it could be a substance of days or weeks to enter into negotiations. – We believe we have a very short window in which we can make an agreement – he said.
Attack on Qatar capital
Marco Rubio is presently in the mediate East. On Monday, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. – This visit shows the strength of Israel's alliance with the US – the Israeli Prime Minister assured.
A visit by the U.S. Secretary of State takes place at a time of expanding tension in the mediate East after a Tuesday Israeli attack on Qatar's capital, Doha. The intent of the raid was to deprive the Hamas leaders in that city of their lives, but according to available information no of them were killed.
The attack met with a wave of criticism from the UN, European and arabian states, as well as Qatar itself.
Rubio and Netanyahu stress that ending the conflict in Gaza requires the breakdown of Hamas structures and the release of the remaining 48 hostages. Hamas, on the another hand, demands the exchange of hostages on Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
