Day 200 of the Israel-Hamas War, Attacks on Both Sides Increasingly Intensive

Israel is increasing attacks throughout the Gaza area. Hamas called for a counterattack. The area is getting hotter.

AFP PHOTO/HANDOUT/ISRAELI ARMY

Israeli troops are operating in the Gaza Strip, Thursday (18/4/2024).

DUBAI, TUESDAY — It has been 200 days since the war between the Israeli military and the Hamas group has raged in the Gaza Strip. Israel intensified attacks throughout the Gaza region, as did Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades which called for escalation on all fronts.

The spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigade, Abu Ubaida, called for the escalation of attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. Ubaida's speech marking the 200th day of the Hamas-Israel war was broadcast on Al Jazeera television station, Tuesday (23/4/2024) local time.

In his speech, Ubaida also praised Iran's attack on Israel on April 13, 2024. The direct attack with drones and missiles "gave rise to new rules, created important similarities, and confused the enemy and the people in back."

Apart from in Gaza, Ubaida has called for an escalation of attacks in the West Bank and Jordan. He referred to these two regions as "the most important Arab strongholds." This is according to two regional security sources.

Jordan, which is located between Iran and Israel, intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that entered its airspace while heading towards Israel. "We call on the Jordanian people to increase their action and voice," said Ubaida.

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AFP/MOHAMMED ABED

A refugee woman cried while calling her brother after performing Eid al-Fitr prayer at a refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday (10/4/2024).

The call is Hamas' response to the increasing attacks by Israel in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Some of Israel's attacks on Tuesday were considered the heaviest in recent weeks. According to residents and Hamas, tanks launched new attacks on the east side of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. The attacks continued into Zeitoun.

Although it did not penetrate far into the city, gunfire reached several schools, causing refugees who took shelter there to panic. "This is one of the terrifying nights we have experienced since the beginning of the war. Bombing from tanks and planes never stops," said Um Mohammad (53), a mother of six who lives 700 meters from Zeitoun.

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In western Beit Hanoun, precisely in Beit Lahiya, an airstrike struck a mosque, killing a young boy and injuring several others. A medical officer also died in a shooting near the city stadium. Separate attacks in Beit Lahiya hit a crowd of people gathered on the beach to collect aid dropped from the air.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, through social media X, urged residents in four zones in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza to move to two designated areas. Regarding the refugee ultimatum, the Israeli military stated that they are following international law and taking preventative measures to reduce civilian casualties.

This was one of the most terrible nights we had experienced since the beginning of the war. The bombardment from tanks and planes did not stop.

The shooting and bombing in Northern Gaza occurred almost four months after the Israeli military announced its withdrawal from the area. Israel at that time stated that Hamas no longer controlled the region.

Apart from the north, according to resident statements, Israel's attacks also occurred in the central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip in the form of air strikes and ground tank shootings. They reported that the attacks were almost non-stop for almost 24 hours.

AFP

Gaza residents run towards humanitarian aid dropped from the air in Gaza airspace, Tuesday (23/4/2024).

Israel intensified its attacks in Gaza after reports of rocket warnings in the cities of Sderot and Nir Am on the southern border of Israel. The Jihad Islamic group claimed responsibility for the attacks in both cities. They wanted to show that they are still capable of launching rockets on the 200th day of the war.

Hamas stated that Israel only achieved "humiliation and defeat" with its attack. Ubaida also emphasized that Hamas remains firmly committed to its demand in ceasefire negotiations, which is for Israel to permanently end the war, withdraw all its troops from Gaza, allow refugees to return to the north, and lift the humanitarian blockade.

However, Israel rejected the demand and stated that it would bring Hamas back to power.

Lebanon

Conflict escalation also occurred in the northern region of Israel on Tuesday. Hezbollah group in Lebanon, supported by Iran, fired dozens of Katyusha rockets into Israeli territory.

In a statement, Hezbollah referred to the attack as a response to the killing of two civilians in an attack allegedly carried out by Israel. "As part of the response to Israel's attack on civilian homes, especially the horrific massacre in Hanin and the killing and injuring of civilians," Hezbollah said in a statement.

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AFP

A Gaza refugee carries humanitarian aid through the ruins of buildings, Tuesday (23/4/2024).

In addition to killing two people, the attack also injured a number of others. The National News Agency of Lebanon (NNA) confirmed the dead and injured victims.

Before the rocket attack, Hezbollah also attacked the Israeli military base in Acre with drones and explosives. Since the Hamas-Israel war broke out on October 8 2023, Hezbollah has also intensified attacks on Israel. Cross-border attacks occur almost every day. At least 380 people were recorded as dead in Lebanon, 72 of them civilians. Meanwhile in Israel, 11 soldiers and eight civilians were killed.

As for the Hamas-Israel war, it has killed at least 34,000 Palestinian citizens. Meanwhile, 1,200 Israeli citizens have died and hundreds of them are still held hostage by Hamas.

(AFP/Reuters)