Title: Israel-Hamas War Wreaks Havoc on Gaza, Civilians Suffering
As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to engage in house-to-house battles with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the civilian population is facing devastating consequences amid a collapse in humanitarian relief efforts.
Hamas has increasingly relied on improvised bombs to inflict casualties and slow down the assault by Israeli forces. Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed by a flood of civilian casualties, with women and children accounting for 70% of the dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
The focal points of the ongoing fighting have been the Jabalia refugee camp, Shuja’iyya district in northern Gaza, Khan Younis, and Bani Suheila in the south. The IDF has taken control of most of the main north-south highway running through Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that the IDF was winning the war, but at an “unbearable price.” The IDF has reported numerous casualties in the ground operations, with 84 soldiers reported killed.
The Biden administration has urged Israel to limit civilian casualties, but the devastating campaign continues. The situation has led to discussions on what should happen to Gaza after the war, with increasing evidence of extreme sexual crimes committed against female victims by Hamas attackers.
US officials have insisted on demilitarizing Gaza, while Netanyahu has stated that the IDF is the only force capable of achieving this. He opposes the idea of international forces handling the demilitarization, citing previous failures in other regions.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the civilian population bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, while calls for de-escalation and ceasefire persist.