Israel poised for massive ground invasion of Gaza – as UN warns of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’

Hundreds of thousands of troops mass on border as near-constant airstrikes pound besieged Strip

The Israeli army is poised for a ground invasion of Gaza, as the United Nations warned of an unfolding “humanitarian catastrophe” in the besieged Strip.

Hundreds of thousands of IDF troops have amassed in multiple divisions on the border of the enclave, which they have sealed off and cut access to water, fuel, electricity and food.

Over the last few days, the Israeli air force has launched near continual and ferocious bombardments of Gaza, levelling whole neighbourhoods and reducing city blocks to rubble.

Military officials warned that “every option was on the table” in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants who breached the border fence in dozens of locations at the weekend, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens hostage.

“We are preparing our forces for the option of a ground operation. I believe that they are ready, the forces want to do that,” IDF spokesman Major Nir Dinar told The Independent.

“[The military] is signalling the government that they are ready.”

He said the airstrikes were ongoing and “much stronger than they used to be from previous escalations”.

“It is heavier in number and scale and force,” he added.

Destruction from Israeli aerial bombardment is seen in Gaza City (AP)

The development came as:

• Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined forces with opposition leaders to form an emergency wartime government
• The number of British citizens either killed or missing rose to 17, including children. Briton Jake Marlowe was confirmed dead
• The US says 22 of its citizens have died in Israel, while 17 are missing, with some believed to have been taken hostage
• The Israeli death toll rose to 1,200 as airstrikes killed 1,100 Palestinians
• UK foreign secretary James Cleverly visited Israel and had to run to a bomb shelter when air-raid sirens went off

In Gaza, where the only power plant ran out of fuel, United Nations officials told The Independent that a humanitarian disaster was fast unfolding because of the bombings, blockade and the closure of border crossings.

Tamara al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, said nearly 180,000 displaced people, fleeing airstrikes, had taken shelter in 88 UN schools in Gaza in just two days.

Meanwhile, no humanitarian aid has been getting in because of Israel’s total siege and the fact the border with Egypt had been closed. “It is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding,” she said.

Civilians search for survivors after an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP/Getty)

She added nine UN personnel had been killed – that number later rose to 11 – and 18 UN buildings damaged, including the headquarters, in the bombardment.

Power and water cuts from Israel as well as fuel shortages have meant little clean drinking water, and poor sanitation.

More than 1,200 Israelis died after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday, breaching the border fence and storming villages and a music festival. Militants are holding an estimated 150 people snatched from Israel including soldiers, women and children.

Witnesses of the attack described watching friends slaughtered on their doorstep as they cowered in their homes.

In comments that could be damaging for Mr Netanyahu, a senior Republican has suggested a warning of potential violence came three days before the attack.

“We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen,” Michael McCaul, the chair of the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee, told reporters after a closed-door intelligence briefing for legislators on the crisis.

“I don’t want to get too much into classified but a warning was given. I think the question was at what level,” he said.

In Gaza, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in one of the heaviest bombardments Israel has unleashed on the territory, that total includes 326 children.

Israel has stopped all supplies, including medication, to Gaza — which is just 42km (26 miles) long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, and is home to 2.3 million Palestinians.

In the UK, Mr Marlowe’s mother Lisa said she and her family were “heartbroken” after hearing the “crushing news” that he had died.

Mr Marlowe, from north London, had not been seen since the invasion early on Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border. More than 250 festivalgoers were killed in the attacks.

King Charles condemned the "barbaric acts of terrorism" in Israel, with a Buckingham Palace spokesperson adding that he was "extremely concerned" about the situation in the region.

"His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak,” they added.

The Prince and Princes of Wales said they were “profoundly distressed” by the devastating events.

The US has said it is in conversations about safe passage out of Gaza for civilians. “It's the civilians who did nothing wrong so we want to make sure they have a way out,” said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.