Israel-Hamas war, Day 10 (cont.)Israel launches ground war against Hamas; Egypt blames Hamas
Israel forty-five minutes ago launched a land incursion into the Gaza Strip. The ground move is being accompanied by the heaviest Israeli bombardment to date – from land, sea, and the air — of targets throughout the Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesman said that large infantry and armored units have entered Gaza in the north, center, and south simultaneously. The Prime Minister’s office issues a statement saying that one of the goals of the ground operation is the destruction of the system of tunnels Hamas has built close to Israel’s borders. Egypt blames Hamas for any Palestinian casualties resulting from Israel’s operation.
Israel forty-five minutes ago launched a land incursion into the Gaza Strip. The ground move is being accompanied by the heaviest Israeli bombardment to date – from land, sea, and the air — of targets throughout the Gaza Strip.
The IDF spokesman said that large infantry and armored units have entered Gaza in the north, center, and south simultaneously.
The Prime Minister’s office issues a statement saying that one of the goals of the ground operation is the destruction of the system of tunnels Hamas has built close to Israel’s borders.
The diplomatic front
The Egyptian government has issues a harshly worded statement saying Hamas bears the responsibility for any civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s military operation. The Egyptian statement is proof that Hamas made a major mistake on Tuesday in rejecting the Egyptian cease-fire proposal. Hamas compounded its error by turning instead to two of Egypt’s bitter rivals in the region – Turkey and Qatar – hoping the two would be able to offer a proposal which would be more favorable to Hamas.
Both Egypt and Palestinian Authority leader Muhammad Abbas went a step further, accusing Turkey of encouraging Hamas to harden its position and reject the Egyptian proposal.
Hamas said that one of its conditions for accepting a cease-fire with Israel was the opening of the Rafah Border Crossing which connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and which the Egyptian government closed last summer after the military removed Muhammad Morsi from power. The closing of the Rafah Crossing choked the Gaza economy, and prevented Hamas from smuggling goods and arms into Gaza.
In addition to the Egyptian statement blaming Hamas for any civilian casualties in Gaza, Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, issued a separate statement pointedly telling Hamas that the Rafah Crossing is on Egyptian sovereign territory, and that Hamas should not entertain the belief that it can dictate to Egypt what to do with its territory.
He added that the crossing would be opened on Egyptian terms.
People in Muhammad Abbas office said that they are not surprised by the Israel land attack, but that they hoped the broadening of the war would not delay the cease-fire.
Abbas is on his way to Turkey in an effort to persuade Ankara to stop undermining the Egyptian efforts.
