Unyielding Anguish in Gaza Grows as Protests Escalate Across the Middle East

Fresh protests against Israel's blockade of Gaza are anticipated throughout the Middle East on Friday as aid organizations caution that hospitals in the territory are facing a shortage of fuel. They fear that crucial aid may remain stuck in Egypt for another day.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens by the hour, Israeli leaders have been mobilizing troops in preparation for a possible ground invasion. On Friday morning, they issued a mandatory evacuation order to approximately 23,000 residents who live near the Lebanese border.

In a speech delivered from the Oval Office on Thursday, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his administration's dedication to supporting Israel in its conflict with Hamas. He emphasized that this engagement is essential for America's national security and drew parallels to Ukraine's struggle against Russia's invasion.

However, President Biden urged the Israeli government to avoid being consumed by anger and to acknowledge the importance of the lives of innocent Palestinians. Neglecting their suffering would be a violation of their humanity.

Bidens' endorsement exemplifies the growing divergence between Western allies and Arab nations. On Friday, further demonstrations are anticipated in Arab countries to express solidarity with the 2.2 million Palestinians confined in Gaza, intensifying concerns regarding the potential escalation of a broader regional turmoil.

Outside the sealed border, approximately 200 trucks carrying crucial assistance are currently lined up, awaiting an agreement for the gates to be unsealed. Negotiations prolonged throughout Thursday as workers diligently repaired treacherous road damage caused by Israeli bombings, enabling the passage of up to 20 trucks.

However, despite Biden's and Egyptian officials' assurances that aid would proceed as scheduled on Friday, CNN sources have revealed the possibility of a delay. It is important to note that the situation is constantly evolving, as emphasized by a US official.

Moreover, the situation within Gaza is worsening for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, who are facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel.

The UN Human Rights Office issued a press release on Thursday, accusing Israel of committing "crimes against humanity" in its ongoing campaign. They criticized the complete blockade of Gaza, along with the issuance of impracticable evacuation orders and forced population transfers, stating that these actions violate international humanitarian and criminal law. Furthermore, they denounced these measures as unimaginably cruel.

A convoy of trucks carrying aid supplies for Gaza from Egypt waits on the main Ismailia desert road, about 300 km east of the Egyptian border with Gaza, on October 16, 2023.

Doctors Without Borders, also referred to as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), reported on Thursday that the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which is the primary medical facility, is currently running low on fuel and has just a 24-hour supply remaining.

"According to Guillemette Thomas, the medical coordinator for Palestine based in Jerusalem, the absence of electricity will result in the tragic death of numerous patients. She also highlighted the crucial role of Al-Shifa hospital in providing a safe refuge to thousands of Palestinians amidst the relentless bombing."

President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House Thursday, October 19, 2023, in Washington, about the war in Israel and Ukraine.

Jonathan Ernst/AP

Residents are facing the arduous challenge of waiting in long queues for food and water amid relentless airstrikes, leading to a shortage of food in numerous supermarkets.

The population in southern Gaza has increased in the past few days as the Israeli military instructed approximately one million residents to evacuate northern Gaza in preparation for the anticipated Israeli ground incursion. On Thursday night, St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, the oldest church in Gaza located in central Gaza City, reported that its compound was targeted by an airstrike from Israel.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem's building was destroyed and several individuals were injured due to an Israeli airstrike, according to a statement from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior and National Security.

Confirming the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that a church wall was damaged in the strike. The target of the airstrike was identified as a Hamas terrorist command and control center.

CNN has not independently confirmed how many people were injured.

A bakery prepares rations of bread to pass out to internally displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip on October 17, 2023.

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Soon see Gaza from the inside

In response to Hamas' brutal rampage on October 7, which resulted in the tragic deaths of approximately 1,400 people in Israel, predominantly innocent civilians, Israel has embarked on a relentless military campaign in Gaza. This horrifying incident has been cited as the most devastating massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of over 3,700 individuals, as reported by the Health Ministry in Gaza, under Hamas control. Tragically, this includes a significant number of women and children. The arrest of over 60 suspected Hamas members in the West Bank on Thursday has further fueled speculation of a potential ground incursion.

Israeli authorities confirmed on Friday that Hassan Yousef, the Hamas spokesperson, was among those detained during the raids. Yousef, a prominent Palestinian political figure, holds the position of the official Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank and also has a seat on the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt is seen on October 10.

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

The last remaining exit for Gazans is through Egypt. Here's why Cairo is reluctant to open it

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant assured troops assembled near the Gaza Strip on Thursday that they would soon witness the enclave firsthand.

In a separate location bordering the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rallied other troops, emphasizing that the entire country supports them. "We will deliver a decisive blow to our adversaries, ensuring our triumph. Are you prepared for victory?!" he exclaimed.

On Friday morning, CNN's Nic Robertson observed heightened military movements occurring along the border between Israel and Gaza. A series of illumination flares were visible in the distance, accompanied by the sound of intense heavy machine gun fire and red tracer rounds.

CNN is unable to say what the night-time military activity was.

Protests in the Middle East

Israeli airstrikes have caused widespread displacement, rendering hundreds of thousands of individuals without homes, and have incited escalating demonstrations throughout the Middle East. In a notable departure from a decade marked by stringent anti-protest regulations, Egyptian political parties and organizations aligned with the state have urged for countrywide protests on Friday to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday about the genuine risk of regional spillover resulting from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Noting the widespread anger and protests in the Arab streets throughout the region, she highlighted that this is precisely what Hamas had aimed to achieve. Furthermore, von der Leyen expressed concern that these events could potentially disrupt the recent and significant progress in the relationship between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

During her speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington, she elaborated on the potential consequences of this escalation.

On October 19, 2023, a plume of smoke emerges from the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah as a result of Israeli bombardment. This photo captured by SAID KHATIB showcases the intensity of the situation. (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

They are tasked with viewing 'the worst imaginable images' of the Israel-Hamas war. It's taking a heavy toll

Protests against Israel intensified this week following the deaths of numerous Palestinians in a devastating explosion at Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on Tuesday. Palestinian authorities have accused Israel of targeting the hospital, an allegation vehemently denied by Israel. Both Israeli and US intelligence agencies have concluded that the explosion occurred due to a misfired rocket from a militant group based in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq released statements denouncing Israel and alleging that its military had attacked the hospital.

As anti-Israel demonstrations intensify throughout the Middle East, concerns are growing that additional confrontations may arise, particularly along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah, which holds significant influence in the region, has recently engaged in escalating clashes with the Israeli military.

This breaking news story will be continuously updated. Reported by Mohammed Tawfeeq, Tamar Michaelis, Daniel Oz, Nic Robertson, Muhammad Darwish, Jake Tapper, Jennifer Hansler, Alex Marquardt, Sahar Akbarzai, and Jo Shelley of CNN.