Israel-Hamas war: Pentagon sends military advisers to aid Israel

The Pentagon has sent military advisers to Israel to aid in its war planning against Hamas. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (Oct 24), the Pentagon is also speeding multiple sophisticated air defence systems to the Middle East days ahead of Israel's anticipated ground assault into the Gaza Strip. Earlier, US officials had advised their Israeli counterparts to consider a delay in any ground assault, saying it would give more time to allow the US to work with its regional partners to release more hostages.

The report said that one of the officers leading the Pentagon assistance is Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, who previously helped lead special operations forces against the Islamic State and served in Fallujah, Iraq.

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Lt Gen Glynn will also be advising on how to mitigate civilian casualties in urban warfare, a US official told the news agency. On Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Glynn and the other military officers who have been advising Israel "have experience that is appropriate to the sorts of operations that Israel is conducting.”

Also on Monday, US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to update him on Washington's support for Israel and ongoing efforts at regional deterrence, including new American military deployments.

Ongoing war sparks fears of new Palestinian displacement

The war between Israel and Hamas, which has been going on for over three weeks, has sparked fears of a new Palestinian displacement. The recent warnings by Israel to Palestinians to evacuate north of the territory ahead of the ground assault have evoked dark memories for Israel's Arab neighbours - Egypt and Jordan.

Speaking to the news agency AFP, Gaza-based rights group Al Mezan said, "That's how the Nakba started." The Nakba is how the Arab world refers to the exodus or forced displacement of 760,000 Palestinians in the war that led to the creation of Israel 75 years ago.

There is a fear of history repeating itself since Israel countered Hamas' October 7 offensive.

One million Gazans have already been forced out of their homes, and the Palestinian health ministry said that over 5,000 people have been killed in the war-torn region.

The only possible way out of Gaza that is not controlled by Israel is the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Till now, Egypt has allowed aid convoys into Gaza through Rafa. However, there have been no mass flights of refugees heading the other way.

Egypt fears that throwing open the gates could facilitate Israeli plans for a forced mass eviction of Palestinians, with most of them homeless, AFP reported.

"Most of the people would rather die in Gaza than be made a refugee again," Al Mezan told the news agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

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