NO RESPITE FOR GAZANS
There has been no respite for the 2.4 million Palestinians living in Gaza, almost all of whom have been displaced at least once.
“Moving from one area to another is distressing because there is no safe place in Gaza,” said Raeed Hamad, 51, a cancer patient from the southern city of Khan Yunis.
“We are displaced under heavy bombardments … I have lost weight and I’m exhausted”.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant toured the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza on Sunday, where he vowed again to eliminate Hamas.
But he said the military was focusing on the northern front also, where Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israeli forces traded fire on Sunday.
“While you are fighting here in Gaza, we are preparing for anything that may happen in the north,” Gallant told soldiers, according to a statement issued by his office.
“The shift of the centre of gravity can happen quickly and can also involve you in a short period of time”.
Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal, but Israel insists troops must remain along the Gaza-Egypt border.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have all been mediating in efforts to forge a ceasefire.
Israeli protesters numbering in the tens of thousands have mounted pressure on the government, demanding a deal that would mean the release of hostages.
Source: CNA
