Israel-Hamas War death toll on Day 7 hits 2,800, first Op Ajay Air India flight lands in Delhi

At the end of the sixth day, October 12, of the Israel-Hamas War, the situation escalated, with grave humanitarian concerns emerging as both sides exchanged fatal attacks.

The war since October 7 has claimed more than 2,800 lives so far, reported the Associated Press.

Operation Ajay

• On Friday (October 13) morning, the first charter flight from Israel touched down in New Delhi, carrying 212 Indians who were stranded in Israel.
• This flight, operating under 'Operation Ajay,' departed from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday (October 12) night.

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Potential land invasion

• The Israeli military might be preparing for a potential land invasion of the Gaza Strip, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directed the evacuation of the northern part of the strip, which is home to almost 1.1 million people.
• That is almost half of the population of the 40-kilometer-long Palestinian enclave with a total population of 2.3 million people.
• According to the AFP (October 12, 2023), Israel has been launching artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip at intervals of 30 seconds.
• According to the IDF, around 6,000 munitions containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives have been used to strike Hamas targets since Saturday.
• Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesperson, told AP, "Forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre" should political leaders decide to launch one.

• The decision to proceed with a ground offensive has not yet been confirmed by the Israeli military.
• According to the IDF, the Gaza blockade will remain in place until Hamas frees around 150 Israeli hostages taken to Gaza during the weekend surprise attack.
• Following the assault by Hamas, Israel has reportedly called up around 360,000 reservists and deployed the units close to Gaza to conduct the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents from neighbouring areas.

Escalating humanitarian crisis

• The situation in Gaza remains grim, as civilians face shortages of essential supplies such as electricity, food, fuel, and medicine.
• Israel had imposed a complete siege on the territory, making it increasingly difficult for the 2.3 million people in Gaza to access basic necessities.
• The sole Gazan power plant ran out of fuel to produce electricity on Wednesday, October 11, which has plunged it into darkness since.
• According to the United Nations, over 423,000 people have been forced from their homes due to the airstrikes, with many seeking shelter in UN-run schools.

• Families are struggling with limited access to food and water, as well as power outages that threaten the functionality of vital medical equipment in hospitals reported AP.
• Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned that hospitals risk becoming morgues without electricity, as essential medical equipment relies on power to function.

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Diplomacy

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel and his discussions with Israeli officials have offered support to Israel's retaliation against Hamas.
• Blinken reportedly viewed graphic images of civilian casualties and atrocities committed by Hamas.
• In addition to meeting with Israeli officials, Blinken is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II to address the spillover effects of the escalating war.

• Meanwhile, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister released highly disturbing images of children killed and burnt by Hamas.
• According to India Today the images were shown to the NATO defence ministers and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which proves the atrocious Hamas terrorists did not spare babies.

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Calls for restraint

• The international community has expressed deep concerns over the ongoing war, with calls for restraint and efforts to de-escalate the situation.
• The United Nations has called on Israel to revoke any orders that may further worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations, a move that puts civilians at risk. Israel, however, has denied the use of the banned weapons.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to intensify, there is growing uncertainty about the path forward. The region remains on edge, with concerns about the potential for further violence and casualties.

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