Israel signals 'new phase' in Gaza war a year after Hamas' attack

GAZA STRIP - The Israeli military carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Oct 6 and signaled that it was stepping up operations in the enclave as it pressed on with its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

- 

The apparent escalation in Israeli military activity - against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah - comes amid rising concern over a broadening war in the Middle East a year after Hamas' attack on Israel.

On Oct 7, 2023, at the end of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza into southern Israel in what would become the deadliest attack in Israel's history.

The militants killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages.

Hours after that attack, Israel launched a lightning military offensive against Gaza that has reduced large swathes of the enclave to rubble. Nearly all of Gaza's population of 2.4 million have been displaced at least once as a humanitarian crisis worsens.

Israel's relentless offensive against Gaza has so far killed at least 41,870 Palestinians.

Israel placed its forces on alert on Oct 5 and deployed more troops to defend southern communities and areas bordering Gaza, ahead of the anniversary of the Oct 7 attack.

"We are prepared with increased forces in anticipation of this day", when there could be "attacks on the home front", Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari, the military spokesman, said in a televised briefing.

Just hours after that warning was aired, a 25-year-old woman was killed and 10 others injured on Oct 6 in what was described as a suspected terrorist attack in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

Israel's ambulance service, Magen David Adom, said in a statement that five people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and another five were mildly injured by glass and shrapnel.

"The terrorist was neutralised at the scene," police said in a statement.