Israeli forces have reported significant progress in regaining control of areas in the south that were targeted by Hamas militants during the ongoing conflict. The announcement comes on the fourth day of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which has seen heavy bombing in the Gaza Strip and a siege.
The Israeli military has discovered the bodies of “hundreds and hundreds” of Hamas militants who were killed in the fighting inside Israel, indicating the scale of their attack. The military also stated that there are no longer infiltrators crossing the Gaza border, although there may still be some holdouts on Israeli territory.
The death toll on both sides continues to rise, with Israeli media reporting over 900 Israelis killed by Hamas attacks and rocket fire, while Palestinian health officials report at least 680 casualties in Gaza due to Israeli strikes. Thousands on both sides have been injured.
In his first televised comments since the conflict began, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied Iran’s involvement in the attack but expressed support for those who planned it against Israel.
President Biden is set to deliver remarks on the situation in Israel in Washington, and the United Nations reports that nearly 190,000 people in the Palestinian Gaza Strip have been displaced from their homes, with many seeking refuge in U.N.-run schools. However, Israeli airstrikes have forced the closure of 14 distribution centers, cutting off food aid to half a million people.
Gaza residents have awakened to scenes of widespread destruction, with hospitals treating thousands of wounded. Israeli reservists have been mobilized along the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Israel has imposed a complete siege on Gaza, severing access to water, food, fuel, and energy, while Egypt has also closed its borders with Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to intensify the offensive against Hamas, describing the group’s actions as atrocities comparable to those committed by ISIS. He urged individuals in areas where Hamas operates in the Gaza Strip to evacuate.
Hamas has claimed to have taken about 150 hostages, including men, women, children, and soldiers, in response to Israeli strikes on civilians.
This recent violence follows weeks of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with Israel and Gaza experiencing multiple conflicts over the past decade and a half.
World leaders, including those from the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, have condemned Hamas’s actions as acts of terrorism while expressing support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. President Biden has confirmed the deaths of at least 11 Americans and efforts to assist U.S. citizens held captive by Hamas.
Several Latin American countries have reported citizens missing in the conflict and have launched evacuation efforts.
The U.S. is offering Israel air defense and munitions, with plans to expedite their delivery. The USS Gerald Ford Strike Group is being deployed to the Mediterranean, although no specific timetable has been provided.
Gaza’s healthcare system is under severe strain due to resource shortages and closed borders, making it increasingly challenging to provide care for the wounded. The director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, Dr. Medhat Abbas, has expressed concern about a potential collapse of the health system.
The situation remains fluid and fraught with uncertainty as the conflict escalates, with fears of further violence and humanitarian challenges looming.