Israel-Hamas conflict: What you need to know as Israel readies for a ground invasion of Gaza

There are fears the Israel-Hamas conflict could risk a wider clash in the Middle East.

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IMMINENT GROUND OFFENSIVE

Israel's leaders are rallying troops for a ground offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited front-liners near Gaza, urging them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force".
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday (Oct 20) detailed the objectives of the military campaign in Gaza, including the elimination of Hamas and the "complete removal of Israeli responsibility from the Gaza Strip and the creation of a new security reality in the region".
The United Nations high commissioner for refugees said that any escalation of military activities will be "catastrophic" for people in the Gaza Strip.

US President Joe Biden has requested a massive US$105 billion security package, including US$61 billion in military aid for Ukraine and US$14 billion for Israel - but paralysis in Congress means it will hit an immediate wall.
International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. The UN said the first aid delivery via this crossing should take place "in the next day or so".

Israel is evacuating the northern city of Kiryat Shmona near Lebanon after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border.
Violence in the occupied West Bank has surged, fuelling concerns it could become another front in a wider war.
The US said its navy warship intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The attack was "potentially toward targets in Israel", said a Pentagon spokesperson.

Two US hostages - a mother and her daughter - have been released "for humanitarian reasons", a Hamas spokesperson has said. Hamas says it has 200 hostages and that 50 more are held by other armed groups.

Source: Agencies/rj