Israel sends more forces into Gaza Strip, US opposes ceasefire
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said the army is sending more units into the Gaza Strip and the scale of ground operations in the territory continues to expand.
“The IDF continues to expand its ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Infantry, armored and engineering forces are being deployed to continue coordinating ground, air and sea operations at full capacity. Our forces have killed dozens of militants over the past day. The military plan is being implemented as expected and will continue to be implemented according to our objectives,” the IDF said in a statement, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Earlier, the Israeli army advanced more than 3km into the Gaza Strip in a ground operation. Israel announced over the weekend that it had entered the second phase of its conflict with Hamas. On October 29, the IDF said that ground operations in the Gaza Strip would be intensified after weeks of airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled territory.
US opposes ceasefire
According to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Washington opposes a ceasefire in Gaza because such a move would “benefit” Hamas. “We do not believe that a ceasefire at this time is the right decision. In our view, a ceasefire would benefit Hamas.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced on October 30 that he would not heed calls for a ceasefire, asserting that "this is a time of war."
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last week to adopt a resolution calling for an “immediate, lasting and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas. The United States and Israel were among 14 countries that voted against the resolution.
