'The Ground Shook in Gaza,' Says IDF, as Ground Invasion Underway
Israel-Hamas War Continues, Entering New Phase
Overt Operator
October 28, 2023
"The ground shook in Gaza," said Israel's defense minister, the Associated Press quoted.
Israel has launched a new phase of its war with Hamas, launching a full ground invasion into Gaza, Axios reported on October 28.
A reported 2.2 million people remain "largely cut off" from the outside world as the ground invasion, an incursion counter to the bloody onslaught by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, commences. Israel's decision to invade the Gaza strip follows a round of intensive artillilery strikes on northern Gaza.
US Urges Middle East Allies to Cut Off Funding for Hamas
In an emergency session of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), the United States called on its allies in the Middle East to increase efforts in cutting off outside funding for Hamas, Voice of America reported on October 26. The call follows Hamas' bloody incursion which prompted the US Treasury Department to take action.
In the hours since the war began, the United States, and world leaders, have attempted to negotiate deescalation, calling for humantiarian pauses and "ceasefire," the Associated Press reported on October 28.
The TFTC, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, convened to discuss ways to collaborate and reduce the flow of funds to terrorist organizations.
During the session, the US Treasury Department urged member countries to utilize their influence to do more in cutting off the financial support to Hamas.
Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the US since 1997, controls the Gaza Strip, home to approximately 2.3 million Palestinians. The region has been subjected to relentless Israeli shelling for over two weeks, leading to widespread economic hardships for its residents.
Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, emphasized the importance of taking action against Hamas and its terrorism. He stated, "From our perspective, not acting against Hamas and its terrorism is a disservice to the Palestinian people." Nelson further highlighted how Hamas has exacerbated economic challenges in the Gaza Strip by diverting humanitarian assistance for its campaign of terror. He urged member countries to publicly condemn these actions.
During the meeting, Nelson stressed that the world cannot tolerate a situation in which terrorist organizations like Hamas operate with impunity, abusing the financial system to sustain their acts of terror. The United States is determined not to tolerate such a world.
The TFTC, established in 2017, serves as a platform for government officials from member countries to collaborate and discuss strategies to combat money laundering and reduce funding to terrorist organizations. The center is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The emergency session of the TFTC, originally scheduled for November, was accelerated due to the urgency of the situation. The United States and its allies in the Middle East are committed to taking decisive action against Hamas and working together to cut off its sources of funding.
By intensifying efforts to prevent outside funding from reaching Hamas, the international community aims to disrupt the organization's ability to carry out acts of terror and protect the welfare of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.