In response to the recent conflict, Israel’s defense minister reassured that they have no plans to control civilians in Gaza after engaging with the Hamas militant group.
Last Friday, the United Nations shared that a significant amount of crucial aid for Gaza is on its way, vital for survival.
Thousands rally for Gaza in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, epicentre of 2011 ‘Arab Spring’
Thousands packed into Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Media outlets said rallies also took place in other Egyptian cities on day 14 of Israel’s bombardment of the enclave following Hamas’s deadly October 7 attacks.
#UPDATE Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across Egypt in support of war-torn Gaza on Friday, with large crowds flooding into Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, an AFP correspondent and Egyptian media said ➡️ https://t.co/AGVsRNG3sa pic.twitter.com/ts4nwxQbNi
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 20, 2023
Palestinians Need Urgent Help
Egypt quickly cleared the way, fixing the route into Gaza, the only one not controlled by Israel.
In the southern city of Khan Younis, Palestinians reported heavy airstrikes in areas advised for safety during Israel’s bombardment near the Israeli border. Ambulances rushed into Gaza’s second-largest hospital, already crowded with patients and those seeking shelter.
In the midst of this turbulent situation, Israel’s defense minister reiterated that they have no plans to control Gaza’s civilian population after their conflict with the Hamas militant group.
This ongoing conflict, now in its 14th day, is the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. On the Israeli side, over 1,400 lives were lost, mainly during the initial attack on October 7 when Hamas militants entered Israel. Additionally, 203 individuals were reportedly captured by Hamas during this incursion and taken into Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
A mass evacuation took place, with over 1 million Palestinians, about half of Gaza’s population, leaving their homes in the north and Gaza City following Israel’s advisories of an expected ground incursion.
The immediate cause of this conflict was Hamas firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on October 7, marking a surprising and deadly offensive known as “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.”
