Israel at war: Terror chiefs slain in Gaza surge

Israel has expanded and intensified its ground assault on Gaza as Foreign Minister Penny Wong ­expressed ‘deep concern’ about the rising civilian death toll.

An IDF ground operation in the Gaza Strip. Picture: IDF

Israel has expanded and intensified its ground assault on Gaza as Foreign Minister Penny Wong ­expressed “deep concern” about the rising civilian death toll and Joe Biden called for an immediate increase in humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

The ground assault surge came as six former Australian prime ministers signed a joint statement condemning Hamas and calling for protection of Gaza’s civilians.

The stepped-up attack on Gaza was accompanied by fresh exchanges of fire between Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces in south Lebanon, and an upsurge in violence on the West Bank. Israel also said it launched a strike on military targets in Syria that had been used to fire rockets at Israel.

The Israeli Defence Forces said it had intensified its ground war in Gaza killing “dozens” of terrorists including tactical commanders, while also conducting “massive ­attacks from the air”.

Reports said Israeli forces have advanced at least 3km into north Gaza with an Israeli flag seen being flown off a resort hotel in northern Gaza. The pattern of the invasion suggests Israeli forces are seeking to trap Hamas militants in the northern part of the enclave.

“The ground operations are complex and involve risks,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. “We are doing everything from the air, sea and ground to ensure the safety of our forces. We are progressing through the stages of the war according to plan.

“We are gradually expanding the ground activity and the scope of our forces in the Gaza Strip.”

The IDF said it had hit 450 targets in Gaza over the past day and accused Hamas of committing crimes against humanity by hiding its military assets near hospitals and schools.

The IDF has dropped leaflets in northern Gaza urging people to head south for their safety, ­although many of the roads are now blocked by debris and the cost of transport is prohibitive.

As the civilian death toll continues to soar in Gaza, Senator Wong stepped up the government’s call for Israel to do more to protect innocent civilians during its military campaign.

“I’m certainly deeply concerned, as so many people are, by the loss of life, and the destruction and loss of life in Gaza is something I think the international community is deeply concerned about, just as we were horrified by the brutal terrorist attack of Hamas, and the continuing holding of hostages,” she said.

“How Israel conducts this war matters. It has a right to defend itself, but the way it does so matters, and we’ve called for the protection of civilian lives.”

Senator Wong is understood to have instructed her department to verify reports that the IDF has ­issued evacuation orders at al-Quds Hospital in Gaza. Israel has accused Hamas of placing command and control centres in tunnels under hospitals but any attack on the hospital would cause massive casualties.

A statement signed by John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison has condemned Hamas and called on Israel to do all it could to minimise civilian casualties while pursuing its “legitimate objective” of defeating Hamas.

“The legitimate objective of defeating Hamas must be accompanied by support and protection for the civilian population of Gaza,” the former prime ministers said.

“Israel promises it will do all it can to avoid civilian casualties, we urge it to do so with all of its ­humanity and skill. We are horrified by the thousands of deaths and injuries inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians, including many, many Palestinian children.”

The former leaders also called for greater tolerance and an end to hate speech.

“Our Australian Jewish community, directly affected by the terrible crimes of Hamas, not only has to endure the loss and suffering of their families in Israel, but now sees these events being used by some to spread ancient hatreds, which have inflicted so much suffering on the Jewish people for thousands of years,” they said.

Paul Keating was the only former prime minister not to sign, saying he would not sign on to a letter “drafted by” the Zionist Federation of Australia.

Israel’s retaliatory bombing in Gaza has triggered an upsurge of anti-Semitism internationally despite the conflict having been triggered by Hamas’s murder of 1400 Israelis three weeks ago. Hundreds of people stormed the main airport in Russia’s Dagestan region on Sunday, chanting anti-­Semitic slogans and seeking passengers arriving from Tel Aviv.

Israeli armoured vehicles take up positions in the north of the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Picture: AFP

Mr Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israel should “immediately and significantly” increase the amount of aid, including water, food and medicine, entering the territory. He said Israel had a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens from terrorism but needed to do so in “a manner consistent with international humanitarian law that prioritises the protection of civilians”.

Thirty-three aid trucks entered Gaza from the Egyptian border in the past day, the largest number so far but still well short of the minimum 100 a day coming in before the conflict. Israel has agreed to speed up inspections of aid trucks to allow 100 a day to enter Gaza while the US secured Egypt’s support in speeding up the flow of aid.