Military of Israel authorizes initiative for a broader operation in Gaza
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the Israeli military has escalated its offensive in Gaza City, with a focus on targeting Hamas' military infrastructure and extensive underground tunnel networks. This expanded operation, which has mobilized 60,000 reservists, aims to regain full control of the area and eliminate Hamas' military capabilities.
The humanitarian impact of this offensive has been severe. Intensive attacks have caused widespread destruction, significant civilian casualties, including children, and large-scale displacement in Gaza City neighbourhoods such as Az Zaytoun. Humanitarian conditions remain dire, with urgent calls for ceasefires and access for aid delivery to prevent famine.
Efforts to broker a truce are ongoing, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators proposing a ceasefire plan. This plan, reportedly approved by Hamas, involves phased releases of hostages and prisoners, humanitarian aid access, and limited Israeli military withdrawal in specific zones of Gaza. However, Israel has expressed conditional willingness to extend the truce based on the number of hostages released.
The timeline for this offensive is actively being accelerated, with no definitive end date beyond the stated military objectives and hostage negotiations. Israeli leadership, especially Prime Minister Netanyahu and the military, remain focused on continuing the offensive to diminish Hamas' capacity to threaten Israel and secure remaining hostages.
The situation remains highly fluid, with both military operations and diplomatic efforts ongoing. Notably, human rights organizations, including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), have reported intensive attacks causing widespread destruction in Gaza City. According to figures from the health ministry in Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the death of at least 61,722 Palestinians since October 2023.
Meanwhile, domestic opposition and international outcry have grown in response to Israel's plans to expand the Gaza war. Reserve and retired pilots who served in the Israeli air force have rallied in Tel Aviv to demand an end to the conflict. The truce conditions include the release of some hostages, some Palestinian detainees, and the flow of humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza without restrictions.
It is crucial to note that past calls to resettle Gazans outside of the war-battered territory have sparked concern among Palestinians and condemnation from the international community. The Israeli military continues to severely restrict the amount of food and other supplies allowed into the besieged enclave, with UN-backed experts warning of widespread famine unfolding in Gaza due to Israel drastically curtailing the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.
In the midst of this complex and dynamic situation, at least 235 people including 106 children have died of hunger in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Hamas has condemned what it calls "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in Gaza City. The situation underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to this ongoing conflict.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts between Israel and Palestine, centered in Gaza City, have led to a catastrophic impact on the health of its people, with at least 235 deaths, including 106 children, due to hunger since October 2023.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict, the arts have not been spared, with human rights organizations, including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, reporting intensive attacks causing widespread destruction in Gaza City.
- Despite international outcry and domestic opposition, the Israeli military's offensive in Gaza continues to intensify, with a focus on targeting Hamas' military infrastructure, impacting the general-news and political landscape significantly.
