New Delhi: Following months of escalating violence, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war after a relentless barrage of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip and an infiltration by Hamas militants into Israel in the early hours of Saturday. Tensions have reached a critical point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The escalating war situation has tragically claimed the lives of at least 480 people till now, out of which 250 are Israelis and 230 are Palestinians, and left numerous others injured, as per an Indian Express report.
In a recent statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a strong stance against Hamas’ presence in various locations within the city, vowing to dismantle their operations. He urged Gaza residents to evacuate, highlighting an imminent and forceful response.
“All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli Prime Minister, in a Security Cabinet meeting on Saturday, put out three objectives after the rocket attack and infiltration by Hamas.
The first objective he stated is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated Israeli territory and restore security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked.
The second objective, he said, is to exact an immense price from the enemy within the Gaza Strip as well, and the third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join the war.
Amidst the escalating violence, India’s Representative Office to Palestine has asked all Indian nationals in Ramallah to directly contact the office in case of emergency or if any assistance is needed. The Representative Office also provided a 24-hour emergency helpline.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called an emergency meeting for Sunday as the war situation continues. Prominent heads of state and leaders from across the globe have expressed their outrage and solidarity with Israel in the wake of this tragic incident.