Gulf Frame
The Israeli army on Thursday told ground forces to prepare for a potential invasion of the Gaza Strip, amid calls from the UN to “step back from the brink”. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and the Palestinians to avoid a “descent into chaos”, as the Security Council met to discuss the crisis. The cross-border escalation came after weeks of unrest in Jerusalem reached boiling point with Israeli police storming Al Aqsa Mosque compound.
Palestinians inspect the rubble of the destroyed Al Shorouq tower after an Israeli strike in Gaza City. In response to days of violent confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in Jerusalem, various Palestinian militants factions in Gaza launched rocket attacks that killed at least six Israelis. The Gaza Strip’s health ministry said that at least 65 Palestinians, including 13 children, were killed in retaliatory Israeli air strikes. Hamas confirmed the death of Bassem Issa, its Gaza City commander, during an air strike.
