Current:Home > MyMilitary spokesman says Israel plans to increase strikes on Gaza-LoTradeCoin
Military spokesman says Israel plans to increase strikes on Gaza
View Date:2024-12-23 20:22:02
Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, Israel's military spokesman said.
Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand.
"We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today," Hagari said.
He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety.
However, many people in Israel are worried that their family members of friends still held captive by Hamas could be caught in the crossfire of a ground incursion. According to Israeli military estimates, Hamas militants are holding about 200 hostages.
Eli Cohen says militants captured his 27-year old niece, Inbar Haiman, at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, where at least 260 festivalgoers were killed by Hamas.
"All together four terrorists, they were kidnapping her into Gaza Strip," Cohen said.
Cohen said that the release of two American hostages on Friday — a mother and daughter from Illinois — "gives me hope because we see there are some negotiations through Qatar. And we see that Hamas understand it needs to let people go."
On Friday night, while boarding Air Force One, President Biden was asked if he thought Israel should delay a ground assault until Hamas released more hostages. The president answered "yes." However, a White House official later said the president was too far away and didn't fully hear the question. CBS News reached out to the White House for clarification on whether the president thinks that Israel should delay a ground invasion, but did not get a response.
On Saturday, deliveries began moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes.
Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera news, which is close to security agencies, said just 20 trucks had crossed into Gaza on Saturday, out of more than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid that have been positioned near the crossing for days. The trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the United Nations children's agency — enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said.
However, no U.S. citizens or other foreign nationals who have been stranded in Gaza since the war began were allowed to cross into Egypt.
The death toll in Gaza has now reached 4,385 — including 1,756 children and 967 women — in addition to 13,561 injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said during a news conference on Saturday. Seventy percent of the casualties are women, children and elderly people, the ministry spokesperson said.
- In:
- War
- Hamas
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
veryGood! (381)
Related
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- Burn Bright With $5 Candle Deals from the Amazon Big Sale: Yankee Candle, Nest Candle, Homesick, and More
- Adam Sandler has the script for 'Happy Gilmore' sequel, actor Christopher McDonald says
- Lewis Morgan hat trick fuels New York Red Bulls to 4-0 win over Inter Miami without Messi
- Human head washes ashore on Florida beach, police investigating: reports
- Arrests for illegal border crossings nudge up in February but still among lowest of Biden presidency
- March Madness Sweet 16 dates, times, TV info for 2024 NCAA Tournament
- These 10 Amazon Deals Are All Under $10 and Have Thousands of 5-Star Reviews From Happy Shoppers
- New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M
- Former Rep. George Santos says he's leaving the Republican Party, will run as an independent
Ranking
- How Alex Jones’ Infowars wound up in the hands of The Onion
- Maximize Your Time and Minimize Your Spending With 24 Amazon Deals for People Who Are Always on the Go
- Nevada regulators fine Laughlin casino record $500,000 for incidents involving security officers
- Palm Sunday is this weekend; What the Holy Day means for Christians
- Quincy Jones laid to rest at private family funeral in Los Angeles
- March Madness expert predictions: Our picks for today's Round 2 games
- New England battling a mix of wind, rain, sleet and heavy snow
- The top zip codes, zodiac signs and games for Texas lottery winners
Recommendation
-
Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
-
Save up to 50% on Kitchen Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
-
NASCAR COTA race 2024: Start time, TV, streaming, lineup for EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
-
These 10 Amazon Deals Are All Under $10 and Have Thousands of 5-Star Reviews From Happy Shoppers
-
'Joker 2' actor pans DC sequel as the 'worst film' ever: 'It has no plot'
-
'Unbelievable toll': Tate accusers see waves of online hate as brothers sue for defamation
-
NBC’s Chuck Todd lays into his network for hiring former RNC chief Ronna McDaniel as an analyst
-
Oath Keeper’s son emerges from traumatic childhood to tell his own story in long shot election bid