Defense Minister Orders Total Blockade, Observer: Hamas Has Made A Big Disgrace For Israel

JAKARTA - Observers believe Saturday's attack has made Israel a grave disgrace, while the country's defense minister ordered a total blockade on Gaza, with armed clashes this time expected not to take place briefly.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had given orders to carry out a total siege of Gaza.

No electricity, food, fuel or water will be sent to the enclave, which is surrounded by Israel and Egypt on three sides.

"We are fighting barbaric people and will respond," Defense Minister Gallant said, citing CNN Oct. 9.

Meanwhile, Israeli Infrastructure Minister Katz said he had ordered the water supply to Gaza to be cut immediately, amid a total blockade.

"I ordered to immediately cut off the water supply from Israel to Gaza. Electricity and fuel were cut off yesterday," he said in a statement on X, quoted by The National News.

Separately, observers expect this war to take longer than Israeli-Palestinian armed clashes in Jerusalem and Gaza in 2021 which lasts 15 days.

"Of course it will be longer and more terrible. Because Hamas and Islamic Jihad have made the biggest disgrace for Israel by killing more than 700 people and charming 160 people," said Middle Eastern observer Faisal Assegaf to VOI.

He added that PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant had stated that they would destroy Hamas and Islamic Jihad.