A second day of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza strip has been met by an intensified barrage of missiles and rockets fired at Tel-Aviv by Hamas and other militant groups.
Reports suggest that Israel has bombarded targets in the Gaaza strip form the air and sea in an effort to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities. The Israeli authority has also authorised the call up of 30,000 soldiers in preparation for a possible ground invasion.
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned Hamas of further repercussions, stating,
“I hope Hamas and the other terror organisations in Gaza got the message. If not, Israel is prepared to take whatever action is necessary to defend our people”
Speaking at a press conference, spokesperson for the Israeli military, Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibvitch, outlined that the Israeli attacks had “severely affected Hamas’ military capabilities. The spokesperson acknowledged the possibility of a ground invasion as an “option”.
In light of the intensifying violence, United States president, Barack Obama, has urged the conflict region’s neighboring nation, Egypt, to help de-escalate the violence.
Commenting on the US concerns, a western diplomat said,
“The American focus is getting the Egyptians to pull Hamas back, and making sure the Egyptians themselves do not do anything precipitous that could seriously damage the peace accords.”
Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, held a firm stance with Israel, expressing “strong condemnation” of the attacks and withdrawing the Egyptian ambassador from Israel.
Meanwhile the United states continued to publicly back Israel, as Obama reiterated,
“the United States support for Israel’s right to self-defence in light of the barrage of rocket attacks being launched from Gaza against Israeli civilians.”
At least 18 Palestinians have been reported killed since the Israeli bombardment started on Wednesday.
