Gaza Under Severe Strain as Israel Escalates Military Action
The Israel Defense Forces, under the command of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has escalated its ground operations against Hamas, extending into the southern Gaza Strip. This area was previously considered a “safe zone.” During a visit Sunday to the Gaza Division, Halevi disclosed that the military had effectively dismantled two Hamas brigades in northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking commanders and numerous operatives.
The intensified military action follows the collapse of a seven-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Halevi emphasized the continuation of the offensive with equal vigor in southern Gaza, asserting a robust approach against Hamas leaders.
Concurrently, rocket attacks from Gaza persisted, primarily targeting southern Israeli communities. Additionally, forces aligned with Hizbullah and Iran launched rockets and anti-tank missiles into northern Israel, causing minor injuries in Beit Hillel, near the Israel-Lebanon border. In response, Israeli forces conducted retaliatory strikes.
The Golan Heights, a region annexed by Israel, also witnessed projectile attacks from Syria, prompting further military action.
Despite ongoing hostilities, Israel’s Homefront Command has lifted most restrictions, reopening schools and workplaces, except in communities near the Gaza Strip.
The escalation in violence exacerbates the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has raised alarms about the imminent threat of disease outbreaks, compounded by Israeli bombardment. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip has reported over 15,500 Palestinian deaths since the conflict’s inception, with thousands more injured. On the Israeli side, about 1,300 deaths have been documented.
