In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israel has pledged to launch a ground offensive in response to a wave of attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas. This comes as the United States, led by President Joe Biden, declared unwavering support for Israel and issued a warning to those seeking to exploit the situation.
Israel has reported that its fighter jets conducted a massive airstrike, targeting more than 200 locations in a Gaza City neighborhood believed to have been used by Hamas to launch attacks. In response, Gaza’s health ministry has reported over 1,055 casualties, including 5,184 injuries. Meanwhile, Israel’s military confirmed a death toll of 1,200 and over 2,700 wounded on its side.
“We have sustained extremely heavy casualties,” said military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus in a video briefing.
Hamas had previously threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit without warning, but this threat has yet to be realized. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed significant change in Gaza, stating, “What was in Gaza will no longer be.”
The situation is further complicated by rocket attacks on Israel’s northern border. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon prompted Israeli retaliatory shelling, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict.
The United Nations has reported that over 260,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza due to the heavy Israeli bombardments, which have hit the Palestinian enclave from land, sea, and air.
Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, drawing concern from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Meanwhile, the violence has spread beyond Gaza, with rockets launched from Syrian territory landing in Israel.
In response to the crisis, the United States has rushed additional military assistance to Israel, including ammunition and interceptors for the Iron Dome aerial defense system. President Biden urged Israel to adhere to the “law of war” in its response and issued a stern warning to potential exploiters of the situation.
Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has called for protests across the Arab world in support of Palestinians, and the US has dispatched its top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.
As the conflict intensifies, countries such as Fiji, South Korea, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Canada are working to evacuate their citizens stranded due to canceled flights amidst the turmoil. The situation remains fluid, with regional and international stakeholders closely monitoring developments.
