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Israeli attacks on Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital have dramatically intensified in the past few hours, with staff reporting “a catastrophic situation”, MSF says. Palestinians sheltering inside are appealing to the international community for help.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates and the number of Palestinian civilian casualties climbs, what is Israel seeking to achieve with its military response to the Hamas attacks?

Conducting an effective joint (air, land and maritime) military offensive campaign requires considerable planning and preparation.

Although the Israeli political objective of “destroying Hamas” creates an interesting soundbite, as a practical and achievable military objective it lacks credibility – the military cannot destroy an ideology. Regardless, Israel has declared war on Hamas, and appears determined to “resolve the Hamas issue” whatever the cost.

Israel-Gaza latest: Explosions and ‘intense clashes’ reported at Gaza hospital

But to what end?

With the ground offensive on Gaza City under way, the residents have been told to leave northern Gaza for sanctuary in the south. However, for many Palestinian civilians that is not a credible option; besides, the IDF is also bombing the south of Gaza, so despite the risks, many have stayed in Gaza City.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have his sights set on seizing Gaza City.

Despite Hamas resistance, there is a certain air of inevitability that – eventually – the IDF will achieve that objective, even though it will prove extremely difficult to stop Hamas from subsequently continuing to launch surprise attacks from the Gaza Metro (the extensive labyrinth of tunnels under Gaza City).

Hamas is no match for the Israeli military, but Hamas can deny Israel the opportunity to achieve its objective by simply relocating many of its fighters to southern Gaza, where they can blend in with the locals and “live to fight another day”.

What next?

Before the conflict, the unemployment rate in Gaza was around 50%, and decades of economic decline had left a bleak outlook for the region. Now, devastation has been wreaked on the Gaza City infrastructure, thus further eroding the prospects for those residents returning after the conflict ends.

And, although the mounting casualties resulting from IDF military action look alarming, experience suggests that these current figures will ultimately be dwarfed by deaths resulting from disease, lack of water and medicines.

Although mounting international diplomatic pressure continues to call for some form of ceasefire, what influence does the international community actually have in this conflict?

Is there any political appetite – and resolve – to find an enduring solution to the conflict, or will the international community once again be content to apply a well-intentioned sticking plaster to curtail the current conflict, only for it to erupt again in the not-too-distant future?

Read more:
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Is regional peace even possible?

There is no military solution to this situation, but have all possible political options been exhausted?

Given the apparent irreconcilable positions of the warring factions, peace will require determined, brave, imaginative and committed engagement from the international community – probably led by the US and Saudi Arabia.

However, successive generations have failed to commit the energy, resources and political capital to establish a path to peace, leading to the inevitable escalation in violence and destruction that have become trademarks of the conflict.

Nobody is suggesting that the path to peace is easy. It is not. However, the failure to exhaust all possible options has led inexorably to the horrors of war that we witness today. War is brutal and indiscriminate, and military veterans who have served their nation know first-hand the tragic consequences of the failure of political resolve.

In the First World War, over 20 million people died, and over 21 million were wounded. The horrific war was finally brought to an end 105 years ago this weekend. Armistice Day initially commemorated the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of the First World War, which took effect at 11 in the morning – the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of 1918.

Following the Second World War, Remembrance Day – held on the second Sunday of November – became the national focus to commemorate all those who lost their lives in war.

Although few veterans of the Second World War survive, Remembrance is an opportunity to pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and reflect on the horrendous consequences that war entails.

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Politicians declare war, but the tragic and brutal consequences are felt more widely – both civilian and military.

We should never forget the horrific consequences of a failure of politics, which should serve as a stark reminder that – however difficult the road to peace – the consequences of war are far worse.

“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them” – Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Israel is facing mounting international pressure – including from its main ally – to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The number of people killed in the Gaza Strip in the past five weeks now stands above 11,000, according to health officials in the territory.

Israeli forces have been waging war on Hamas militants who carried out a deadly rampage in southern Israel on 7 October.

Israel initially said more than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack but the figure has since been revised down to around 1,200.

Follow latest: ‘Thousands’ flee Gaza’s largest hospital after ‘intense violence’ nearby

In his strongest comments to date on the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire, US secretary of state Antony Blinken told reporters on a visit to India: “Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks.”

But Mr Blinken reaffirmed his country’s support for Israel’s campaign to ensure that Gaza can no longer be used “as a platform for launching terrorism”.

It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron said Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing women and babies.

Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Mr Macron said France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas, but also recognises Israel’s right to protect itself.

“We do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza, he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also said his country is prepared to take injured Palestinians from Gaza, as hospitals in the enclave report being overrun.

In London, a pro-Palestinian march will take place later today. It is the latest in a series of protests and has attracted headlines after Home Secretary Suella Braverman dubbed them “hate marches” due to a small minority of participants chanting inciteful slogans.

This weekend’s march is complicated further by it falling on Armistice Day.

How Israel has responded

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said world leaders should be condemning Hamas, not Israel.

“These crimes that Hamas (is) committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York, and anywhere in the world,” Mr Netanyahu said.

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Israel has said it does not aim its attacks at civilians and tries to protect them, and that Hamas militants have hidden command centres and tunnels underneath hospital buildings.

They are footballers turned activists. Standing up for Israel online in the war against Hamas.

At a cost – with Tottenham winger Manor Solomon and Celtic forward Liel Abada facing abuse, including from some of their club’s own fans.

But to Israel head coach Alon Hazan his players are fighting for their nation – without being on the battlefields of Gaza.

Solomon in particular has regularly posted on Instagram drawing attention to massacres during raids into Israel on 7 October, the campaign for hostages to be released, military members killed “protecting” Israel and raising concerns about the actions of Hamas in Gaza. The Meta-owned account was briefly suspended this week for unexplained reasons.

Israel-Gaza latest: Explosions and ‘intense clashes’ reported at Gaza hospital

Abada has come into direct dispute with a section of his own fans at Celtic after the Green Brigade unfurled a banner which read: “Free Palestine. Victory To The Resistance!” The Glasgow giants have banned some of the Palestinian-flag-waving supporters.

“They don’t care about what people will say about (them),” Hazan said in an exclusive interview with Sky News. “They fight for their people, they fight for their country, because they know what is the truth.

“So when they keep doing that, I think for me it’s a lot different but still, they’re another soldier of my country.

“People are fighting in Gaza – Manor and Liel and others are fighting all around the world, to show the (view)point of the Israeli country, the Israeli people and what’s happening for us.

“And they don’t care if somebody will cut the contract or this kind of thing. I’m very proud of them … Manor, Liel and other players for us can live very, very proud of yourselves for what you’ve done for the country.”

European Championship qualifier against Kosovo

Hazan will be without Solomon and Abada due to injuries when Israel return to action on Sunday against Kosovo in a European Championship qualifier that was postponed after the outbreak of the war last month.

Matches against Switzerland and Romania that should have been played in Israel will instead be staged in Hungary with survivors of the Hamas attacks due to be flown in as fans.

Hazan said: “Even before wanting to be part of the Euros, this is more important for us that we can be proud of our country and give some happiness to change the atmosphere. This is more important than being part of the tournament.”

War forced postponement of World Cup qualifiers for Palestine

The war has also forced the postponement of World Cup qualifiers for Palestine, which is recognised by FIFA as a nation and playing in the Asian confederation. Three players are unable to leave Gaza for matches against Lebanon and Australia.

The Palestinian football federation has also talked about using matches to bring their people together at a time of conflict.

But some of the solidarity with the Palestinian cause in British football sits uncomfortably with Hazan given the scale of the slaughter of around 1,400 Israelis on 7 October.

‘Disappointing’ lack of specific silence

The Premier League held a silence for all victims of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Hazan said it was “disappointing” the lack of specific silence for Israel as other countries have been afforded after terror attacks.

The Football Association has faced criticism from Israeli and Jewish groups for not lighting the Wembley arc in the colours of the Israeli flag despite being illuminated for France, Belgium and Turkey after attacks in recent years.

Read more:
Palestinians stream onto Gaza highway as Israeli forces strike near hospitals
‘I don’t want to go from one war to another’: Ukrainians await Gaza evacuation

Football ‘swimming in politics’

“Don’t change your mind depending which country is suffering,” said Hazan, who secured Watford’s promotion to the Premier League in 1999 by scoring the decisive penalty in a playoff final shootout.

This interview is dominated by the war but Hazan insists that is not an issue because football is “swimming in politics” – pointing to Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup.

He said: “This disaster, what’s happening in Israel, it’s not about politics. It’s not about who is good, is bad.”

And while focused on his football role, Hazan will be thinking of his daughter. Married a month ago, she was immediately called up to the army and deployed to the border with Gaza.

“It’s very, very, very hard to concentrate on football,” he said.

But there is a bigger mission – bringing Israel back to the global sporting stage.

“Our country is built from people that keep surviving all these thousands of years,” Hazan said. “We are representing something much bigger than football in Israel.”

Explosions have been heard in Kyiv as the Ukrainian capital came under an air attack, its mayor has said.

Authorities in Kyiv have urged residents to stay in shelters, in the first reported attack on the city since late September.

Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram: “Strong explosions were heard on the left bank of the capital.

“According to preliminary information, the anti-aircraft ballistic missile forces worked. The anxiety continues. Stay in shelters!”

There was no immediate information on if there were any casualties, according to Reuters.

Air alerts for Kyiv and a nearby region were announced just minutes before the explosions were heard.

The reported attack comes after Russia said it downed two Ukrainian drones over its territory.

“Anti-aircraft units intercepted lethal drones over the territory of Smolensk and Moscow regions,” the Russian defence ministry posted on Telegram.

It said the incidents happened at about 11pm local time on Friday (8pm UK time).

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