The raging state of war in Israel continues to head towards a ground assault by Israeli forces into Gaza Strip, reflecting a failure of diplomatic overdrive launched by US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the wake of prevailing humanitarian crisis in the densely populated blockaded territory. The much-awaited and equally anticipated humanitarian aid corridor into Gaza is yet to be opened from the Rafah crossing through Egypt, one of the top objectives of Biden and Sunak’s Israel visit despite international pressure from the United States and the United Nations.
While Hamas released two American hostages on October 20, the total number of hostages may well go above 203, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, the international spokesperson for Israel’s Defense Forces told WION’s Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal. Lerner further added that Israel has designated a humanitarian zone in the southwest of the Gaza strip in Al-Mawasi area.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu has demanded that they have the International Committee of the Red Cross have access to the to the hostages,” Lerner added.
Source: WION
