The Pentagon has sent nearly 2,000 U.S. soldiers a "prepare for deployment" order, warning them to be ready to respond in the war between Israel and Hamas, according to two U.S. officials who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made. not yet announced.
The soldiers will have various support roles, such as providing medical aid, clearing mines or providing additional security at crossing points, according to an official.
They will not be sent to Israel, but to the surrounding states in the region.
Russian President Putin will talk with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Egyptian, Iranian, Syrian and Palestinian leaders to urge an end to hostilities.
The Kremlin announced in a statement that Mr. Putin had underlined the "unacceptability of any form of violence against civilians" and noted that Moscow had submitted a resolution to the Security Council calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
According to the statement, Mr. Putin and his interlocutors expressed "extreme concern" about the escalation of hostilities, the "catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.
Mr. Putin confirmed Russia's call to restart the political process to help "achieve a long-term and just solution to the Palestinian issue on an internationally recognized legal basis, which would provide for the creation of an independent Palestinian state coexisting in peace and security." with Israel."
Mr. Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Mr. Putin would hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip
Over a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip in anticipation of an Israeli ground offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas after the deadly attack on Israel. Humanitarian organizations warn that an Israeli ground offensive would accelerate the humanitarian crisis.
Israeli forces, backed by US warships, were positioned along the Gaza border and are training for what Israel called a broad campaign to destroy the militant group.
The fighting that began on October 7 is the bloodiest of the war with Gaza, with 4,000 dead so far. Gaza's Ministry of Health reported that 2,750 Palestinians were killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed and at least 199 others, including children, have been kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza, according to Israel.