Israel Expands Its Military Operation Across Gaza
Israel has escalated its attacks across the Gaza Strip and issued evacuation orders in southern Gaza, following the failure of a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the U.S.-designated terror group.
On Saturday, Israel ordered residents of the main southern city of Gaza, Khan Younis, to evacuate as the Nasser hospital became overwhelmed with the increasing number of dead and wounded. The majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have already been displaced from their homes, with fighting spreading throughout the territory. Palestinian residents and U.N. agencies claim that there is no safe place to seek refuge, an allegation disputed by Israel.
The World Health Organization’s executive board is scheduled to convene on Sunday to address the deteriorating health situation in Gaza. Numerous member states have expressed serious concerns about the dire humanitarian conditions in the enclave, where residents are continuously being displaced in search of safety and basic necessities. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the people of Gaza are on the verge of an unimaginable catastrophe and called on the international community to intervene.
Israel’s decision to expand its military operations coincided with the United States’ veto of the proposed Security Council resolution, further isolating itself diplomatically. Turkey’s foreign ministry expressed disappointment over the impasse, emphasizing that America now stands alone on this issue.
Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard criticized the U.S. veto, calling it morally indefensible and a failure to uphold international law. The U.S. justified its opposition to a cease-fire by highlighting the potential for Hamas to regroup and launch further attacks. Instead, Washington supports temporary pauses in fighting to protect civilians and facilitate the release of hostages taken by militants during the October 7 terror attack on Israel.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of families, friends, and supporters of Israeli hostages detained by Hamas militants in Gaza rallied at Hostages Plaza on Saturday, urging the Israeli government to secure their release. Disturbing signs of trauma were noticeable among the young children who were released by Hamas. Many had not been allowed to bathe during their captivity and had lost significant amounts of weight. However, they were hesitant to eat, hoarding their food, as they had been conditioned to believe it would be scarce.
On Friday, Israel announced the discovery of a new tunnel, weapons, and Hamas facilities beneath Gaza, providing evidence of Hamas’ military operations conducted through an extensive network integrated within civilian infrastructure. While the military did not release visual evidence of the kilometer-long tunnel, they provided photographs of weapons found at Al-Azhar University, allegedly belonging to Hamas.
Israel maintains that Hamas operates from within civilian areas, using this argument to justify its intensive attacks on the enclave and the call for further evacuations.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has resulted in a death toll of 17,700 and thousands more missing and presumed buried under rubble. The health ministry reports that 70% of the victims are women and children. On the Israeli side, 94 soldiers have been killed since the ground invasion of Gaza began.
In response to Israel’s request, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved the possible sale of tank cartridges and related equipment, totaling an estimated cost of $106.5 million, to aid Israel in maintaining a strong self-defense capability.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with mounting casualties and humanitarian concerns, the international community is closely monitoring developments and urging an end to the violence.
The global audience watches with growing concern as the conflict persists, impacting the lives of innocent civilians on both sides. The need for a sustainable resolution is evident, as countless lives hang in the balance.
