CNN: Israel stops aid drops in northern Gaza ahead of major offensive
Photo: Israel preparing to fully seize Gaza (Getty Images)
On the eve of capturing Gaza City, Israel plans to stop airdropping humanitarian aid, according to CNN.
"Israel is set to halt airdrops over Gaza City and reduce the entry of relief trucks ahead of a major offensive," a source told CNN.
The Red Cross warned that Israeli plans for mass evacuation were "impossible."
CNN reports that the Israeli army is preparing to fully seize Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, after nearly two years of war. This comes despite growing domestic opposition and warnings that the campaign will have "disastrous and unbearable consequences" for Palestinians in the region.
In Tel Aviv, crowds of protesters have demanded that the government pursue a ceasefire rather than escalate the offensive. Families of hostages held in Gaza sharply criticized the Israeli government for failing to consider the latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas accepted nearly two weeks ago.
According to witnesses and Palestinian authorities, in recent days the Israeli army has carried out heavy bombardments and ground assaults on Gaza City. These actions have paralyzed vital services, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in darkness as the territory continues to shrink.
Gaza seizure
Earlier in August, it became known that Israel planned to expand its military operation to the entire Gaza Strip.
Later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country’s goal was not to occupy Gaza but to free it from Hamas.
A detailed analysis of why Israel decided to pursue this option can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
