The United States affirmed on Sunday October 29 that Israel must take the necessary measures to make “distinction” in its military operations between Hamas and Palestinian civilians, while the Israeli army intensifies its bombings and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. “That’s the advice we give them. That’s what we communicate, and we continue to do that at the highest levels.”, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on CNN. He added that President Joe Biden would speak again on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Follow our live stream.
Humanitarian aid will be “increased” in the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army called the Gazans “to temporarily move south of Wadi Gaza, to a safer area where they can receive water, food and medicine”. The IDF claimed that as of Sunday, “Humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip, led by Egypt and the United States, would be increased.”
The UN warns of the emergency situation. “The situation in Gaza is becoming more desperate by the hour. I regret that instead of a sorely needed humanitarian pause, supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations”warns UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The toll continues to rise in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian enclave’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 8,000 people were killed and more than 18,000 injured in Israeli strikes. For its part, the Israeli army assures that more than 1,400 people died in the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Communications being restored in Gaza. The intensification of bombings coincided with a communications and internet outage, further complicating the task of humanitarians. The network was being restored as of Sunday morning, monitoring organization NetBlocks said. An AFP collaborator in Gaza City confirmed that he could access the internet and the mobile network, and had managed to contact people in the south of the territory.