The Israeli military has intensified its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, launching a significant attack on Hamas militants and infrastructure in northern Gaza. The move comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire, instead vowing to crush Hamas’s ability to govern Gaza and threaten Israel. Netanyahu’s decision was buoyed by the successful rescue of a captive held by Hamas, with the military estimating that one of the estimated 240 captives seized by Palestinian militants has been freed in a special forces operation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been reported to have struck over 300 militant targets in the past day, engaging with Palestinian militants armed with antitank missiles and machine guns.
The military has also said that its ground operations are focused on northern Gaza, including Gaza City, which is described as the “center of gravity of Hamas”. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with supplies of food, medicine, water, and energy running low due to a near-complete Israeli siege. The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has said that nearly 672,000 Palestinians are sheltering in its schools and other facilities, which have reached four times their capacity.
Thousands of people have broken into UNRWA aid warehouses over the weekend to take food, indicating growing civil unrest. The agency has also reported that 64 of its staff have been killed since the start of the war, with UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini accusing Israel of “collective punishment” of the Palestinians. The UNRWA spokesperson said that the agency has never seen such a high number of aid workers killed in any conflict, with the agency working to provide basic services to hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza, even in normal times.
Gaza Strip
The death toll among Palestinians has passed 8,300, mostly women and children, with the Gaza health ministry confirming the figure. In a statement, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire, calling them “calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas”. He also stated that he had no plans to resign, citing the ongoing conflict with Hamas as the reason for his decision. The Israeli military has been ordered to continue its operations, with the goal of securing the release of hostages and eliminating Hamas’s military capabilities. The ongoing conflict has led to widespread destruction and displacement, with over 1.4 million people in Gaza having fled their homes.
The international community has condemned the violence, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian aid to the affected regions. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with aid agencies struggling to provide basic necessities to those displaced and affected by the conflict. The Israeli military’s continued aggression has led to widespread fear and uncertainty, with many Palestinians doubting the ability of the international community to bring an end to the violence. As the conflict continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is likely to worsen, with the United Nations and other aid agencies calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid.
