The Israeli military has announced the resumption of ground operations in both central and southern Gaza. This comes as airstrikes reportedly claimed the lives of at least 38 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The escalation follows a harrowing day in which more than 400 Palestinians lost their lives in a series of airstrikes—marking one of the most devastating episodes since the conflict reignited in October 2023. This surge in violence has effectively shattered a ceasefire that had largely held since January.
In a statement, the Israeli military indicated that these operations aim to solidify their control over the Netzarim Corridor, a vital area that separates northern and southern Gaza. They characterized the maneuver as “focused” and intended to establish a partial buffer zone within the enclave.
Tragically, an Israeli airstrike at a UN headquarters in central Gaza City resulted in the death of a foreign staff member and injuries to five others, according to the United Nations. Israel refuted this claim, stating that their strike targeted a Hamas facility suspected of preparing to fire into Israeli territory.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a thorough investigation, firmly condemning any attacks on UN personnel. In his statement, he noted, “The recent strike has brought the tragic tally of UN colleagues killed in Gaza to at least 280 since October 7, 2023.”
In a related note, the Bulgarian foreign ministry confirmed that a Bulgarian national working for the UN was killed in Gaza, although it remains unclear if this individual is the same as the foreign staff member mentioned earlier.
Despite efforts for diplomacy, Israel maintains its stance of aiming to eradicate Hamas, declaring that the current offensive is merely “the beginning.”
Local health workers reported another Israeli airstrike in making headlines, this time resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuring ten others in Beit Hanoun, where the military had earlier renewed evacuation orders. In Beit Lahiya, another strike tragically killed 14 people at a mourning tent, according to medical sources.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the fragile truce that had offered a brief respite to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. This conflict, now in its 17th month, has wrought considerable destruction and necessitated multiple evacuations for most of the population.
Live updates: The Israeli military reports that at least 436 people have been killed since the resumption of strikes in Gaza, as per civil defense agencies.
Palestinian health authorities estimate that the ongoing Israeli campaign has resulted in over 49,000 fatalities in Gaza and has created a humanitarian crisis marked by severe shortages of food, fuel, and water.
Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields; however, Hamas denies these allegations and accuses Israel of indiscriminate bombings. This escalation in violence represents the most catastrophic spike in the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades, initially triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 hostages, based on Israeli estimates.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to renew military action has sparked protests within Israel, especially given that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 suspected to still be alive. A coalition of hostage families and activists is now voicing discontent not only with the military’s strategies but also with Netanyahu’s perceived political maneuvers, suggesting he is leveraging the war for personal gain.
Curiously, reports indicate that an Israeli tank shelling along the primary north-south Salahuddin Road has resulted in another life lost and several injuries among Palestinians. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua remarked to Reuters that blocking this road represents a “total coup” against the ceasefire agreement and exacerbates the blockade on Gaza.
Expressing the group’s ongoing interest in establishing a three-phased ceasefire agreement, Al-Qanoua stated, “We are open to any proposal as long as it initiates negotiations for the second phase and conclusively ends the war in Gaza.”
Earlier, the Israeli army distributed leaflets across northern and southern Gaza once again advising residents to evacuate their homes. Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a video statement warning that evacuations from active combat zones would soon commence, asserting, “Airstrikes represent only the first step; without the release of hostages, Israel will act with force you have yet to witness.”
The recent uptick in violence has drawn condemnation from Western nations, including France and Germany, as well as from mediators such as Qatar and Egypt. These parties are invested in preventing Hamas from holding any significant role in Gaza once hostilities cease.
Arab nations have developed a peace offer aimed at reconstruction in Gaza, following a proposal from former US President Donald Trump that sought to resettle Palestinians and transform Gaza into the “Riviera” of the Middle East, much to the region’s outrage. Unfortunately, this plan has yet to gain traction.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that the ongoing situation in Gaza is “unacceptable,” while Jordan’s King Abdullah urged for a restoration of the ceasefire and the resumption of aid flows. He warned, “Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza represent an extremely dangerous escalation that compounds an already dire humanitarian crisis.” Notably, Dorothy Shea, the acting US ambassador to the United Nations, placed sole blame for the resurgence of hostilities on Hamas.
“This conflict continues to evolve, and our collective concern must echo the urgent need for dialogue and peace,” concludes a prominent voice in international relations.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International—Monitoring.
