Israeli Troops Raid Gaza, UN Warns of Fuel Shortage: Impending Ground Invasion Looms
Israeli troops and tanks conducted a brief raid in northern Gaza overnight on Thursday, targeting militant positions as part of preparations for an anticipated ground invasion. The raid took place after the United Nations warned that it is on the brink of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, which would severely hamper relief efforts.
The Gaza Strip has been under a brutal siege, with a shortage of food, water, and medicine, since the outbreak of war following Hamas’ violent incursion into southern Israel earlier this month. The death toll in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza reported that more than 7,000 Palestinians have died during the conflict, though this figure could not be independently verified. There are concerns that the number of casualties could rise significantly if Israel proceeds with a ground offensive aimed at annihilating Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 and has survived previous wars with Israel.
In recent airstrikes by Israel in the southern city of Khan Younis, more than eight homes belonging to one family were leveled, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. The blast zone was filled with debris, and rescuers worked tirelessly to assist the wounded. The Israeli military maintains that it only targets militant sites and accuses Hamas of operating among civilians.
Palestinian militants have retaliated by launching rocket attacks into Israel, with one striking a residential building in Petah Tikva, but causing no injuries. The conflict has not only raised tensions in the region but has also affected neighboring countries. Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed ally of Hamas based in Lebanon, has engaged in multiple exchanges of fire with Israel along the border. Israel has also conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied West Bank.
Israel has vowed to crush Hamas’ ability to govern Gaza and eliminate any future threat to Israel, while also expressing its reluctance to reoccupy the territory from which it withdrew its soldiers and settlers in 2005. However, overcoming Hamas’ deep-rooted presence in Palestinian society poses a formidable challenge.
Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Israel’s war Cabinet, has emphasized that any potential ground offensive will only be one stage in a long-term process that includes security, political, and social aspects spanning several years. Meanwhile, during the recent overnight raid, Israeli soldiers targeted militants, destroyed infrastructure, and neutralized anti-tank missile launch positions.
In the past 24 hours, Israel has conducted around 250 airstrikes across Gaza, targeting tunnel shafts, rocket launchers, and other militant infrastructure. The toll from the conflict in Gaza has surpassed 7,000 lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, including women and children.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has sounded the alarm over depleting fuel supplies, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis. The population in Gaza has struggled with shortages of food, water, and medicine, and around 1.4 million out of 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with nearly half seeking shelter in UN facilities.
Israel has permitted some aid to enter Gaza from Egypt, but the quantity is insufficient compared to the pre-war levels. However, fuel deliveries remain blocked as Israel fears Hamas will seize it. UNRWA has been sharing its own fuel supplies to sustain relief efforts, but the agency will soon be forced to ration its supply if the situation doesn’t improve, according to a spokesperson.
More than half of Gaza’s primary healthcare facilities and approximately one-third of its hospitals have ceased operations, leading to rising infection rates and increased medical challenges. The conflict has inflicted significant suffering on civilians in Gaza, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation for potential diplomatic interventions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged the need for accountability following Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel, but has asserted that holding Hamas accountable takes precedence. Investigation into the incident will come later, after Hamas is defeated.
As the violence continues to escalate, there is a pressing need for a cease-fire and international mediation to prevent further bloodshed and provide relief to the suffering population in Gaza. The situation remains volatile, and regional tensions continue to rise, underscoring the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
