Israel announced the start of the second phase of the war on Gaza, after the Israeli government unanimously approved the expansion of ground operations, while regional reactions continued condemning the Israeli attack and calling for a ceasefire and reaching a humanitarian truce in Gaza.

The death toll of Palestinian martyrs in the Gaza Strip as a result of the continuous Israeli bombing since October 7 has exceeded 8,000 people, according to what the Ministry of Health in the Strip announced. Three weeks ago, Israel declared a state of war for the first time in fifty years, and launched a military operation called “Iron Swords” after Hamas launched a surprise attack called “Al-Aqsa Flood,” which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis.

-- The start of the second phase of the war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated, in a speech from the headquarters of the Ministry of the Army, that additional ground forces had entered the borders of Gaza, beginning “the second phase of the war,” indicating that their goals were clear, which was “eliminating Hamas’ sovereign and military capabilities and returning the kidnapped.”

He stressed that the government unanimously approved the “expansion” of ground operations, adding that the war in the Gaza Strip would be “long,” saying, “We will fight from land, sea, and air, and we will eliminate the enemy on the ground and under the ground.”

In turn, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said in his speech that the war “will not be short, as it is a fateful war (..) us or them,” stressing his commitment to leading the military establishment to victory over Hamas.

The Israeli army had confirmed the intensification of its air strikes in the Gaza Strip and its intention to expand its ground operations there, after its planes raided about 150 underground targets last night in the northern Gaza Strip.

- Exchange of accusations in the prisoner exchange case

Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, confirmed that the movement is ready for a prisoner exchange deal with Israel immediately, saying, "We are ready to conclude an exchange deal that includes the release of all prisoners in the occupation prisons in exchange for the release of all prisoners held by the resistance."
For his part, the Israeli army spokesman said in a daily briefing that Sinwar's statement was a "psychological war" practiced by Hamas to pressure the Israeli people, stressing that there were 230 "Israeli hostages" in Gaza.

On Saturday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, accused the Israeli side of not dealing with the prisoner issue “seriously,” and said that the “large number” of Israeli prisoners it has “is the price of emptying all prisons of all prisoners,” indicating that the Israeli bombing has so far claimed the lives of prisoners. With the lives of 50 hostages.

The Phalange’s spokesman, known as Abu Ubaida, said in a recorded speech broadcast by media outlets, “Many contacts took place regarding the prisoners’ issue and there was an opportunity to reach an agreement on it, but the enemy (Israel) procrastinated and did not show real seriousness to end the suffering of its prisoners. Rather, their bombing and massacres led to the death of 50 of them so far.”

-- Criticism of the West's double standards

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a phone call with the Emir of Qatar that the support provided by some Western countries, mostly the United States, to Israel has given the green light for the latter to commit the “crimes” taking place in Gaza.
Raisi added, "The Palestinian nation needs effective and serious support from the international community, especially unity among Islamic countries, to put an end to Israel's continuing crimes and killings in Gaza."

For his part, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, considered what is happening in Gaza “evidence of the shameful double standards followed by (some) Western countries,” stressing that regional and Islamic countries can “stop Israel through their unity.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also accused the West of failing to stop the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, condemning these Israeli attacks, and saying before a pro-Palestinian crowd that “the West is most responsible” for the killings in Gaza.

He added that the conflict between Israel and Hamas has entered its 22nd day, but "Western leaders cannot even call on Israel to cease fire, let alone express a reaction in this regard."

After Erdogan's speech, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced the recall of his country's diplomatic representatives from Turkey in response to these statements, indicating that he would "reevaluate" relations with Turkey. This comes after Erdogan canceled a planned visit to Israel earlier this week.

-- A Palestinian invitation to an Arab summit

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Arab leaders to hold an emergency summit in order to stop the “brutal aggression” against the Palestinian people, confront the regional and international challenges in Gaza, enable them to remain on their land, and end the occupation of the land of the State of Palestine.

Abbas stated, "The Palestinian issue is going through extremely delicate and difficult circumstances today, as the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip are exposed to a genocidal war and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces in full view of the entire world."

He stated that although the United Nations General Assembly resolution was issued by an overwhelming majority on Friday, "the Israeli occupation forces responded to it with a ground invasion and an unprecedented intensification of bombing, destruction and killing operations."

Abbas added that the most important goal of this Israeli war is "the deportation of the Palestinian people and the return of the Nakba of 1948 and 1967 to these days. This is what we must pay attention to, warn against, and prevent by any means possible."

On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, permanent and sustainable humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.