As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning, emphasizing that the week-long bombardment of Gaza was “just the beginning” of their response to Hamas’s land-sea-air assault on Israel, which has led to over 1,300 casualties.
In response to Israel’s warnings of an imminent ground offensive against Hamas, thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza in search of refuge.
Here are 10 key developments in this evolving situation:
- The Israeli army reported “localised” ground raids in Gaza within the last 24 hours with the aim of clearing the area of terrorists, weaponry, and finding “missing persons.” Israel has alleged that Hamas took approximately 150 hostages during last week’s attacks.
- The Israeli military stated, “Over the past 24 hours, IDF (Israeli military) forces carried out localised raids inside the territory of the Gaza Strip to complete the effort to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry.”
- In an airstrike, Israeli fighter jets targeted a Hamas operation center, resulting in the death of Murad Abu Murad, a senior Hamas commander responsible for the group’s aerial operations in Gaza City.
- Israeli forces identified “several terrorists” attempting to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon and conducted a drone strike to thwart their efforts.
- The ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have led to a significant loss of life, with at least 2,215 Gazans killed, including 724 children.
- The conflict’s impact has extended beyond the region, with protests erupting in major cities across the Middle East and worldwide. These protests express solidarity with Palestinians and condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings that have resulted in civilian casualties.
- Israel faces another challenge on its northern front with Lebanon-based Hezbollah. The Israeli army reported responding with artillery fire after a blast damaged the border barrier.
- Tragically, a Reuters video journalist was killed in south Lebanon during an Israeli strike, while two other Reuters reporters, two from AFP, and two from Al Jazeera sustained injuries.
- The United Nations criticized the Israeli military’s directive for 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza to relocate to the south within 24 hours as “impossible” and a potential crime against humanity. The UN stressed that population transfers are prohibited under international humanitarian law.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the severe strain on Gaza’s healthcare system, struggling to cope with the increasing number of casualties due to relentless Israeli airstrikes and shelling. The health system in Gaza is described as “at a breaking point.”
As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to express concern, emphasizing the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to this ongoing conflict.
Sources By Agencies
