Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip on Monday, cutting off all outside food, water, and electricity to the Hamas-controlled region. The order tightens a 16-year blockade of the impoverished coastal territory in response to the Palestinian invasion of Israel that has claimed nearly 1,600 lives since Saturday.
“I have given an order – Gaza will be under complete siege,” Minister Gallant reportedly told commanders at the Israel Defense Force’s Southern Command, per the Times of Israel. “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.”
Since the surprise invasion by Palestinian forces began on Saturday, Israel has ramped up strikes against strategic Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Gaza, a small Palestinian enclave under Israeli military control, has been under an ongoing air, land, and sea blockade by Israel and neighboring Egypt since representatives of Hamas won political power in the region in 2007. The Palestinian territory is now home to more than two million people, most of whom live in poverty and rely on the heavily regulated resources allowed through the blockade for survival. Pro-Palestine advocates describe the region as an “open-air prison.”
While strikes against Hamas forces in Gaza have been ongoing for years, the “wide-scale” operation has escalated following Israel’s declaration of war in response to Saturday’s attack. Israel’s stated goal is now the total destruction of Hamas, and 300,000 military reservists have been activated to assist in the effort. Monday’s siege was also accompanied by a massive aerial bombardment targeting Hamas rockets aimed at Israel’s border towns.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the retaliatory strikes are only the beginning of the campaign against Hamas, stating: “What will be done to our enemies in the coming days will resonate with them for generations. At the end of the campaign, all our enemies will know it was a terrible mistake to attack Israel.”
Given Hamas’ reputation for establishing its strongholds in schools, hospitals, and community centers, civilian casualties from the airstrikes have been extensive. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 560 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 displaced as a result of the bombardment. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that there are “massacres taking place and entire families [have been] wiped out.” Israel cutting off Gaza’s external electrical grid further complicates rescue efforts and medical care for the wounded.
In response to the rising civilian death toll, Hamas threatened to livestream the execution of one Israeli hostage for every bombing that kills a Palestinian civilian. “Because the enemy does not understand morality and humanity, we decided to put an end to what is happening, and from this hour every targeting of our safe people will be met with the execution of a settler hostage,” said a statement from Hamas representatives.
Statement from Abu Obeida, spokesman of Hamas' armed wing: "Because the enemy does not understand morality and humanity, we decided to put an end to what is happening, and from this hour every targeting of our safe people will be met with the execution of a settler hostage.”
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) October 9, 2023
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli Defense Force completed a door-to-door battle to reclaim control of communities bordering Gaza and now reports no active fighting within Israel itself. An estimated 900 Israelis were killed in the initial assault, with an unknown number killed since then.
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