In the densely populated Gaza Strip, Palestinians endured a third consecutive night under the assault of Israel’s military as the conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group entered a new and escalating phase. Israel’s Defense Forces reported conducting airstrikes targeting around 200 locations within the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory overnight.
While the number of strikes was slightly fewer than the previous evening, it was evident that these airstrikes marked just the beginning of a more extensive Israeli offensive promised to inflict severe damage on Hamas.
The audacious ground, air, and sea attack initiated by Hamas on Saturday had left Israeli families and their government stunned. The attack, characterized by its scale and brutality, claimed a reported 900 lives in Israel, with over 2,500 people wounded, and more than 100 held hostage by Hamas.
The casualties also included at least 11 U.S. nationals, and it remains unclear how many of them are among the hostages held by Hamas. The Biden administration acknowledged Iran’s complicity in supporting Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups but did not find clear evidence linking Tehran to the planning or execution of the attack on Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with strong support from the United States, declared that Hamas had initiated a war, pledging that Israel would bring it to an end. Israel’s objective is to eliminate Hamas’s capacity to plan and execute further operations in Gaza. Netanyahu stated emphatically, “Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they’ve made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel’s other enemies for decades to come.”
The initial phase of this effort involved relentless airstrikes. As of Tuesday morning, Gaza’s Health Ministry, under Hamas control, reported at least 765 casualties, including 140 children, and 4,000 more wounded. Israel maintained that its airstrikes exclusively targeted militants but accused Hamas of positioning fighters, bases, and weaponry in densely populated areas, including residential buildings, mosques, and schools, which have reportedly been hit in the IDF’s recent strikes.
Israel also announced its intent to tighten the longstanding blockade of Gaza, preventing the entry of food, water, medicine, electricity, and fuel into the enclave. Israel squarely blamed Hamas for any suffering experienced by Gaza’s civilians.
The combination of the Gaza blockade and the anticipation of further violence prompted the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, to caution that “international humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks.” Volker also raised concerns about the legality of Israel’s strict blockade, considering the impact on civilian lives.
With thousands of Israelis mourning and many desperate to locate missing loved ones after Hamas’ siege, Israel appeared poised to enter a new phase in its offensive against Hamas, with no sign of easing its attacks. Israel’s military amassed 35 battalions, including tens of thousands of soldiers and dozens of tanks, along the Gaza border.
Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, warned Israel that if the next phase involved an anticipated Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, they were prepared for protracted resistance. Al-Qassam’s Abu Ubaida emphasized the peril faced by Israeli hostages, blaming IDF strikes for endangering their lives.
As the conflict unfolds, questions loom about how Israeli intelligence failed to detect and thwart the planning of such a massive and well-coordinated attack. Additionally, there is speculation about why Hamas chose this moment for an unprecedented operation.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, raising concerns about a potential second front in the conflict.
The situation remains fluid and volatile, with the potential for further escalation and humanitarian consequences.