Gaza:

Israel’s military said it was preparing for “sustained attacks” to eliminate Hamas, while former US President Barack Obama warned that “any Israeli military strategy that ignores the humanitarian costs could ultimately backfire”. Is.”

The health ministry said at least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of attacks, including 2,055 children.

Israel crushed hundreds target in gaza From the air on Monday as its troops battled Hamas fighters during raids in the besieged Palestinian strip, where civilians are trapped in deplorable conditions.

Hamas released two on Monday israeli women One of more than 200 hostages taken during the October 7 attack. They were the third and fourth hostages to be released.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Harzi Halevi issued a statement saying Israel had no intention of stopping its attacks on the densely populated Gaza Strip and indicated it was well prepared for a ground attack.

“We want to bring Hamas to a state of complete destruction,” Halevi said late Monday. “This path is a path of continuous attacks, which is harming Hamas everywhere and in every way.

“We are well prepared for ground operations in the south,” he said, referring to southern Israel adjacent to Gaza. “Soldiers who have more time are better prepared, and that’s what we’re doing now.”

Publicly, the United States has insisted on Israel’s right to defend itself, but two sources familiar with the matter said the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department have stepped up. personal appeal for Caution in negotiations with Israelis.

The US priority is to buy time for negotiations to free the other hostages, said sources who spoke before Monday’s announcement of the hostages’ release.

Asked about the possibility of a ceasefire, US President Joe Biden said: “We must release those hostages and then we can talk.”

Obama warns Israel over civilian casualties

It was not immediately clear whether Obama coordinated his statement with Biden, who was his vice president. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The Israeli government’s decision to cut off food, water and electricity to the captive civilian population not only threatens to escalate a humanitarian crisis,” he said.

“This could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel’s enemies and undermine efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he wrote in a statement published on Medium. could undermine long-term efforts.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned to attend a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East on Tuesday, although it was unclear what action, if any, would be taken by the council, which has five veto-powers. appear divided,

Israel’s bombing of Gaza has allowed China and Russia to burnish their credentials as champions of the developing world, in contrast to the United States, which has clearly supported Israel. The three major powers have a veto on the council.

On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people had been killed in bombardment over the past 24 hours, most of them in the south of the coastal zone, next to which Israeli troops and tanks have massed. possible ground attack,

The Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 320 targets in Gaza in 24 hours, including a tunnel for Hamas fighters, dozens of command and lookout posts and positions of mortars and anti-tank missile launchers.

The Israeli army also claimed that it attacked a Hamas position Gaza’s al-Shati refugee camp The Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said dozens of people were killed or injured late Monday.

Gaza’s 2.3 million people lack basic amenities, european leaders It appears ready to follow the United Nations and Arab countries in calling for a “humanitarian pause” in hostilities so that aid can reach them.

A convoy of humanitarian aid trucks delivered water, food and medicine to the Gaza Strip on Monday – the third since aid began arriving on Saturday – but the UN said fuel was not included and the stockpile would run out within two days.

The UN said desperate Gazans also lack shelter from the relentless attacks that have devastated large parts of the Hamas-ruled territory.