On October 17, 2023, Defence expert and former Lieutenant General of the Indian Army Sanjay Kulkarni said that several HAMAS commanders have been killed in Gaza and the terror group is on the back foot after Israel launched retaliation attacks in Gaza.
Analysis by Defence Expert
“The Conflict between Israel and HAMAS is not the conflict between Israel and Palestine. HAMAS is a terrorist organisation and it has attacked Israel. Several commanders of HAMAS have been killed. The terror group is on its backfoot and Israel wants its hostages freed, he said.
He highlighted that the Visit of US President’s visit to Tel Aviv holds strategic significance to ensure the elimination of HAMAS from the region and preventing civilians from the crisis.
General Kulkarni added “I feel this visit to Israel is very important It has tremendous strategic importance; Israel the United States of America have four decades friendship ties. Joe Biden believes that the conflict should be limited and be finished as soon as possible and not escalate. The visit holds significance in eliminating HAMAS without harming the humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip,”
Biden’s visit to Israel
On October 17, 2023, US President Joe Biden landed in Israel, at a time when the country is facing its toughest battle with the terrorist group HAMAS. The American Secretary of State Antony Blinken while addressing a press conference on the same day said that the US President is coming to Israel at a critical moment and will reaffirm the US solidarity with Israel.
“US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on October 18, 2023, He is coming a t a critical moment for Israel, for the region, and for the world, President Biden will reaffirm the US solidarity with Israel, he will again make it clear as he has done unequivocally since HAMAS Slaughter of more than 1400 people including at least 30 Americans, that Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from HAMAS and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks.
He further added that President Biden will continue to coordinate with the Israeli partners to secure the release of hostages taken by HAMAS. President Biden will send a crystal-clear message to any actor or non-state actor trying to take advantage of the crisis to attack Israel. The United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan which will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and other multilateral organisations to visit civilians in Gaza.
White House Statement
Meanwhile, the White House also issued a statement US Presidents visit to Israel. President Joseph R Biden Jr. will travel to Israel on October 18, 2023, to demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in then face of HAMAS brutal terrorist attack and to consult the next steps.
He will then travel to Amman (Jordan) where he will meet king Abdullah, Egyptian President Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He will reiterate that HAMAS does not stand to for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self determination and discuss the humanitarian aids and needs of civilians in Gaza, the White House added in its statement.
Casualties in Israel-Hamas clash
According to the Gaza-based Health ministry, the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 2,750 and the number of wounded has risen to 9,700. In a previous statement, the ministry said over 750 children were among the people killed in the Israeli attacks. Meanwhile the death toll in Israel from the surprise HAMAS Attacks is now more than 1400 said the Israel Defence Force (IDF)
