WAR – ISRAEL

Israel steps back from ground assault on Gaza

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Original article by Hans van Leeuwen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 18-Oct-23

Israeli Defence Force spokesman Lt Colonel Richard Hecht has downplayed suggestions that a ground invasion of Gaza could be imminent. He says Israel is preparing for the next stages of the war against Hamas, but this may not necessarily include a ground offensive. Any such invasion is unlikely to proceed until after US President Joe Biden visits Israel on Wednesday, where he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US has put 2,000 troops on a "heightened state of readiness" and deployed two aircraft carriers to the region, and Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi says Biden has made it "clear to our enemies" that the US will become involved if Iran or Hezbollah join the conflict.

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ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Airlifts out of Tel Aviv

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Original article by Phillip Coorey,[SPACE]Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 12-Oct-23

Two Qantas flights will leave Tel Aviv for London on Friday night, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying they would just be the start. With growing fears of a ground war between Israel and Hamas, he said the government is looking at all options in terms of helping Australians in Israel who want to get back home. As well as speaking to Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson and Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka about the use of their aircraft for emergency evacuations, it is believed the government is considering the use of military aircraft. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Hamas has done the Palestinian people a disservice with its "abhorrent" attacks on Israel, in that they have pushed the "two-state solution further out of reach", with Wong accusing Hamas of perpetrating an "unconscionable crime" against the Palestinian people.

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