Israeli ground incursions into the Gaza Strip have begun and encountered strong resistance. Bombings in Gaza and mass arrests in the West Bank continue. The global clamor for humanitarian aid grows as the US and Israel maintain the blockade. Lack of fuel wreaks havoc on medical care. Russia receives representatives from Iran and Hamas.
Thursday, October 26
The Zionist massacre has already caused more than 7,130 deaths, almost 3,000 of them children. There are more than 17,500 injured. The Gaza Health Ministry published the names of 7,000 dead in response to doubts expressed by the US about the number of fatalities. “Behind every name is the story of a person.”
A convoy of twelve trucks entered Gaza with emergency aid, but without fuel. The Red Crescent reports a chaotic scene in hospitals due to a total blockade. The United Nations emphasizes that “there is no safe place in Gaza.”
WAFA reports 30 arrests in Hebron, among them the journalist Lama Jater. The Palestinian newspaper Filastin indicates that 80 people were detained in raids in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Al-Bireh and around Bethlehem, adding up to a thousand detained in the West Bank.
At night, more than 100 Israeli armed vehicles entered Jenin, surrounding the Ibn Sina Hospital and deploying sniper teams. There are clashes with the resistance.
In Upper Galilee (on Israel’s border with Lebanon) bombings cause forest fires and the population is evacuated. An American strike group with an aircraft carrier is stationed in the Mediterranean and another is on the way. The US confirms that at least 21 US soldiers have been wounded in attacks in Iraq and Syria.
Israel’s military authorities emphasize that their operations are aimed at “eradicating” Hamas, meanwhile they are eradicating the Palestinian population. Warnings from Israeli authorities to the population of northern Gaza (1.4 million people) to leave the area continue. Preparations for the ground invasion include “selective raids” with tanks, armored vehicles, bulldozers and artillery. One conducted in northern Gaza returned with dozens of detainees.
At night, Israeli ground raids multiplied, encountering strong resistance. Al-Qassam managed to capture members of the force that assaulted Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. Israeli reinforcements unsuccessfully tried to rescue them.
Bombings continue. More internationally banned white phosphorus bombings were recorded in the Sheikh Radwan area.
Israel’s Culture Minister claims the government is responsible for security failures in Hamas attacks. The kibbutzim were hit hard during the Hamas surprise attack on October 7 and security tranquility has completely disappeared, since many of the hostages were taken from them. Israel neither confirms nor denies the list of hostages included in the families’ public complaint in forums such as “Bring them home now.” Israel raised the number of hostages it recognizes to 224. The WHO expresses concern for the health of hostages in Gaza and calls for proof of life.
The governments of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco demand in unity that Israel put an end to the “flagrant violations of International Law” and the “collective punishment” of the Palestinian people. EU members released a document demanding that “aid reaches those who need it, taking all necessary measures, including pauses and humanitarian corridors.” Half a thousand Spanish journalists and photojournalists demand a ceasefire and to be allowed to report in Palestine and Israel. The United States House of Representatives approved a resolution supporting Israel. Erdogan accused Israel of acting like a terrorist organization. Russia monitors the arrival of American F-16 fighters in the Middle East, but does not consider it a provocation. The Kremlin received the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, and representatives of Hamas in the country. Putin rejects “collective responsibility” in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East.
Hamas calls on Palestinians, Arabs and the whole world to hold massive protests on Friday and Sunday under the slogans: “Open the Rafah crossing” and “Stop the genocidal war in Gaza.” The French government prohibits a demonstration supporting Palestine for next Saturday.
Expressions of international solidarity with the Palestinian people continue to manifest in all areas. Today football fans in Tunisia expressed their support for the Palestinian resistance and Madrid students held a Palestine solidarity strike.