The Israeli army conducted a series of raids in the Gaza Strip last night. Tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers from Tel Aviv entered (and then exited) north of the Palestinian settlement, hitting infrastructure and rocket launch positions of Hamas militiamen. The operation was announced yesterday evening on live national television by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A retaliation after the attacks of October 7th. 

"We are preparing for a ground incursion. The timing of the operation will be determined unanimously by the War Cabinet and the Chief of Staff. The objectives are two: eliminate Hamas and free the hostages. My role is to lead this country and its people to total victory over our enemies", declared the Israeli prime minister. 

According to various analysts of international affairs, Israel's raids will be carefully calibrated for various reasons: it cannot lose the good relations built with the Arab world (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia); a war in Gaza does not ensure the defeat of Hamas; the urban clash would turn into a butcher's shop that no general would want to run; Tel Aviv is forced to attack to defend a territory that after the Shoah became a refuge for Jews from all over the world; Israel will not endanger the lives of soldiers and Jewish hostages in the hands of Hamas. 

Meanwhile, this is the comment of the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, regarding the situation in the Middle East: "There is a huge risk of an increase in the terrorist threat in the European Union due to the situation in the Middle East. A in my opinion the risk is that people already present here, radicalised, could commit attacks".

According to American President Joe Biden "Israel has every right and responsibility to defend its citizens from terrorism and to do so in line with international humanitarian law", reiterating the invitation to act "in accordance with the laws of war", and insisting on the importance that "after this crisis" the conditions for lasting peace are created. Tel Aviv said tonight's attack set the stage for future raids.