“LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Israel’s Forces Advance Deeper into Gaza, High Casualty Count Reported”
In the latest developments of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israel has revealed its intent to encircle Gaza’s main city. On Sunday, pictures were published showing Israeli battle tanks on the western coast of the Palestinian enclave. This comes just 48 hours after Israel ordered expanded ground incursions across its eastern border.
The second phase of Israel’s three-week war against Iranian-backed Hamas militants had initially been kept under wraps, with forces moving under darkness and a telecommunications blackout cutting off Palestinians. However, the phone and internet cuts appear to be easing, according to Gaza residents. This has been severely hampering rescue operations for casualties of Israeli barrages, particularly in northern Gaza City, where Hamas’ government and command centers are located.
While Israel has released pictures of tanks and soldiers allegedly deep inside Gaza, Reuters has not been able to independently verify these images. Hamas has fired mortars at Israeli forces in north Gaza and claims to have hit Israeli tanks with missiles, dismissing reports of significant advances by Israel.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has reported striking over 450 Hamas targets in the last 24 hours, including command centers and missile launch posts. Clashes between Israeli troops and gunmen emerging from a tunnel near the border have also been reported.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population in Gaza, with medical authorities reporting over 8,000 people killed, including 3,324 minors. The Gaza government’s media office has stated that 116 medics and 35 journalists have been killed as well, though Reuters has not been able to independently verify these figures.
International pressure for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict continues to mount. The International Criminal Court prosecutor has visited the Rafah crossing and warned that blocking relief for innocent civilians could constitute a crime. Western countries have generally supported Israel’s right to self-defense but are calling for increased humanitarian aid.
In a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden urged Israel to protect civilians in Gaza and increase the flow of humanitarian aid. While Biden affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, he emphasized the need for compliance with international law.
Meanwhile, there are fears of regional overspill from the Gaza war, particularly in Lebanon. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon reported an injury to one of its members after shells hit its base near the Lebanese-Israeli border. Israel has claimed there were rocket or mortar launches from Lebanon, and Hezbollah has stated that it shot down an Israeli drone.
As the conflict continues to escalate, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, facing dire living conditions, have resorted to breaking into warehouses and distribution centers to obtain basic necessities. The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported limited aid deliveries, with only 24 Egyptian trucks bringing food and medicine so far.
Protests in support of Palestinians have taken place worldwide, including in Beirut, where several thousand people rallied in solidarity with Gaza. Reports of a pro-Palestinian group storming a runway in southern Russia, where a flight from Tel Aviv was scheduled to land, led Israel to urge Russian authorities to protect Israelis and Jews.
The situation remains dire for both Palestinians and Israelis as the conflict intensifies. The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.