More than one million people have now left their homes in Gaza and been forced to flee as the Israeli army continues to bombard the Hamas-controlled territory.
An invasion (and according to some a genocide) is looming.
At this stage, Palestinians are forced to flee south of the enclave with as many possessions as possible, while a saddened (and angry) Israel has gathered thousands of troops outside the enclave in preparation for what it calls a land, air and sea attack.
The Israeli army is currently waiting for the “political” green light to invade the north of Gaza.
“We are at the beginning of intense or reinforced military operations in Gaza City,” warns Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israeli army. “It would be unsafe for civilians to stay there.”
However, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah – which supports Pakistan – warn that an invasion of Gaza will be met with a response.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister, says that if Israel invades Gaza, “no one can guarantee that the situation will be controlled or that the conflict will not expand”.
The Arab League and the African Union warn that an invasion could lead to “a genocide”. Antonio Guterres, head of the United Nations, says the entire region is “on the edge of the abyss”.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, was due to hold talks in Israel today (Monday) after a crisis tour of Middle Eastern countries in a frantic attempt to avert a wider crisis in the volatile region.
The White House is particularly concerned about the possibility that Iran will “get directly involved”.
The Americans called on China to use its influence in the region to ease tensions.
However, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Israel’s response went beyond “the scope of self-defence” and demanded that this country “stop its collective punishment of the people of Gaza”.
