By Austin Ogwuda
Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the enclave, in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks that killed 1,400 people.
Already, over 2,700 people have died in Israeli airstrikes.
Gaza is being strangled by Israel’s weeklong siege and aerial bombardment, United Nations, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict.
Further Updates:
*US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during his own visit to the country.
The visit comes as diplomatic efforts to address the crisis – including pressure to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza via Egypt – are intensifying.
*The Pentagon has ordered roughly 2,000 US troops to prepare for a potential deployment to Israel for medical and logistical support, according to defense officials.
Additionally, a US Marine rapid response force is headed to the waters off the coast of Israel, according to a defense health ministry said.
*House Foreign Affairs Committee drafting legislation authorizing military force if Israel-Hamas conflict expands
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul told CNN Monday that his committee is drafting legislation “in the event it’s necessary” to authorize US military force if the current conflict between Israel and Hamas broadens into a wider proxy war with Iran.
“I hope I never have to mark this bill up. But we have a situation in the Middle East that’s growing day by day with intensity and if Hezbollah gets involved, Iran has already threatened if Gaza is, you know, if Israel goes, you know, if IDF (Israel Defense Forces) goes into Gaza that they’re gonna come out,” he told CNN.
The revelation that his committee is crafting draft legislation — known as an Authorization of Use for Military Force — comes as President Joe Biden prepares to travel to the region later this week and is the latest indication that the US government is deeply concerned over how the current crisis could broaden in a way that might require a US military response.
McCaul was careful not to say whether the White House had specifically asked for such an authorization, telling reporters: “I don’t want to confirm that. It’s just that there is concern that — we, I’m currently, we’re currently drafting one in the event it’s necessary.
When asked by CNN what this potential authorization might entail, McCaul said: “I’d prefer not to put Iran as a nation state in there. It would be more Iran proxies, you know, like Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran-backed Shi’ia militias, but if Iran gets directly involved, then we would have to put them on the list.
In an interview later with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, McCaul said he would want any potential authorization to have the full support of the American people.“I’m currently preparing a draft of that in the event it is called upon and is necessary, but most importantly is supported by the American people,” he said.
*The rabbi of the Chicago mother and daughter who are being held hostage in Israel feels reassured that US President Joe Biden and the United States are being supportive of all families.Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, went to Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Natali Raanan’s grandmother.
The mother and daughter are now being held hostage by Hamas. Rabbi Mei Hecht told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday night the family is beyond devastated as they continue to wait for any news on their family members.
“This is a travesty, this is devastation, the pain is just unimaginable,” Hecht said.
Credit: CNN