Israel plans to buy more than 200 armored vehicles for Gaza border towns

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel’s Defense Ministry plans to buy more than 200 armored vehicles to be deployed near the border with the Gaza Strip.

A statement said it will spend 150 million shekels ($41 million) to provide armored vehicles to Gaza border towns and the West Bank.

“Purchasing armored vehicles for local security groups constitutes a significant component in strengthening security for border towns on the frontlines,” said defense commander Yaniv Walfer.

No details were provided about where Israel plans to buy the vehicles.

Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.

At least 28,473 Palestinians have since been killed and 68,146 injured, while less than 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. In an interim ruling in January, the UN court ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.