"The occupying forces have been forced to leave the northern Gaza Strip due to the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and courage of resistance groups," Senior Hamas Representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan said on Wednesday, two days after the Israeli regime announced that it would scale down its operations in northern Gaza.Meanwhile, just following the US attack on Yemen (that it allegedly warned the Houthis about prior to) it's now deploying more troops to its bases in Iraq and Syria, which have come under increased fire:
"The Zionist enemy has totally failed to achieve its goals in Gaza", and its captives will not be released unless conditions set by the resistance front are met, Hamdan said, in reference to Israel's stated goal of releasing its captives and annihilating Hamas when the regime unleashed its war on Gaza on October 7 in response to Al-Aqsa Storm Operation by the Palestinian resistance movement.
He said that the Israeli regime has blatantly violated international law and committed all crimes against the people of Gaza.
"Even children were not spared, and they also destroyed hospitals and schools using all kinds of banned weapons sent from the US", Hamdan said, adding that the US is complicit in Israeli crimes against the people of Gaza, as Washington is providing assistance to the Tel Aviv regime.
The Hamas official also said that Gazans are struggling to survive as they face catastrophic conditions.
"Anybody surviving bombardments will lose their lives because of hunger and disease."
New Jersey soldiers prepare for deployment to Syria and IraqSee also: Korybko: Why the US tipped off the Houthis before last week's strikes on Yemen
Lt. Col. Omar Minott is among 1,500 New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers deploying to Iraq and Syria. This is his fifth deployment to the Middle East, he said.
His deployment is part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a military campaign to defeat ISIS.
Except without the help and funds of the US-Israel, ISIS would cease to exist.
"We have the people we need, we have the training that we need, we have the equipment that we need to fight and win," Minott said.
Ahead of the deployment, military families watched as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and other officials honored the soldiers from the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at a special ceremony Sunday in Trenton.
"By doing your part to support Operation Inherent Resolve, you are protecting peace and prosperity not only for our state, not only for our country but for the entire free world," Murphy said.
Thankfully, these easily disproven beliefs are becoming less common: US military suffers sharp decline in white recruits
Minott said he's ready for the dangers ahead, but being away from his family for 10 months won't be easy.
"With a two-parent household, having me leave is a challenge with our four kids," Minott said. "But my wife is, she's pretty strong."
The wife of another soldier said it will be tough to have her husband leave, but she's relying on friends and family for support.
"Daddy's being deployed to Iraq," Danielle Pruser, who has an 11-month-old daughter, said. "This is his second deployment, so we'll be excited when he comes back."
The soldiers will first head to Fort Bliss, Texas, for training before going to the Middle East. Family members said they're praying for their loved ones' safe return.
In the meantime, families plan to keep in touch by writing letters and talking on Skype.
"It's a little different now than when I first came in, when you had to stand in line for the one phone and wait to get connected," Minott said.
Comment: We thought they moved all the panhandlers out of the city when the WEF came to town.
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