Israeli army launches new bombings in Gaza

Gaza Strip. Israeli forces launched new bombings in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian movement Hamas said this Friday, at a time of high tension after Iran threatened retaliation following the attack on its consulate in Syria, attributed to Israel.

The tenacious Israeli offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7 continues without giving respite to Gaza, subject to a siege that has the vast majority of the 2.5 million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory on the brink of famine, according to the UN.

For their part, Qatar, Egypt and the United States, which are mediating to achieve a truce, are awaiting the response of Israel and Hamas to their latest proposal for a cessation of fighting that also allows the release of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza.

On Friday, Hamas reported that dozens of houses and residential buildings were attacked with explosives in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also shelled other sectors of the area, he added.

At least 25 members of the Al Tabatibi family were killed in an attack on a building in the Al Daraj neighborhood of northern Gaza City, according to a relative.

“Bombing hit Nuseirat all night. There was nothing but fire and destruction, with martyrs lying in the streets. We fled in the morning and have nowhere to go. This is the sixth time we have been displaced. Gaza has become uninhabitable,” he declared. Mohamad Al-Rayes, 61, told AFP.

The Israeli military reported attacks on “more than 60 terrorist targets” in Gaza, including underground posts and military infrastructure.

“Credible” and “real” threats

In addition to the conflict in Gaza, concern is increasing about a possible regional escalation after Iran accused Israel of being responsible for the bombing of its consulate in the Syrian capital on April 1, in which seven Revolutionary Guards were killed. two of them generals.

The United States warned of the danger of an attack by Iran or its related groups and General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of the United States Central Command for the Middle East (Centcom), traveled to Israel.

The United States restricted the movement of its personnel in Israel due to the threat and France recommended this Friday that its citizens refrain from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. For its part, the German airline Lufthansa suspended its flights to and from Tehran.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke Thursday with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin about preparing for an Iranian attack on Israel.

“If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran,” warned Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, reiterated his “strong” support for Israel, despite the tensions between the Democratic president and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, due to their differences over the management of the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran – archenemy of Israel and ally of Hamas – reiterated on Wednesday that Israel “will be punished.”

The White House said Friday that threats of an Iranian attack on Israel are “credible” and “real.”

For his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked his counterparts in China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to try to dissuade Tehran.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian defended the “need” for Tehran to respond after the bombing of its consulate, in talks with his counterparts from Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Negotiations and pressure

The conflict in the Palestinian territory broke out on October 7 after the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which left 1,170 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli figures.

In response, Israel vowed to “annihilate” Hamas and launched an offensive that has already left 33,634 dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s Health Ministry.

The Islamist movement took 250 hostages during its assault, of whom 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to have died, according to Israeli authorities.

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas leader, warned Thursday that the group needs “sufficient time and security” to locate the hostages, key to truce negotiations. According to Naim, the hostages are “in different places, in the hands of different groups.”

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated on Thursday night in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem to call for the offensive to continue.

The prime minister continues to maintain his plans for an operation in Rafah, a city in the extreme south of Gaza where 1.5 million Palestinians are crowded and which the president presents as the last stronghold of Hamas.