Israel Poised To Start Ground Offensive Amid Escalating Conflict With Hamas
Israel has announced its intention to escalate its response following the recent terror attack by Hamas, even preparing for the possibility of a ground offensive.
Israel has announced its intention to escalate its response following the recent terror attack by Hamas, even preparing for the possibility of a ground offensive.
In sustained air strikes, Israel targeted more than 200 locations within a Gaza City neighborhood that Hamas had reportedly been using as launch sites for their attacks. The Gaza health ministry reported at least 950 fatalities and 5,000 injuries in the densely populated enclave.
Hamas invasion of southern Israel on October 7 has resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties, primarily among civilians. Some individuals were taken hostage and paraded through Gaza's streets. Hamas issued threats to execute Israeli captives in response to each Gaza home struck, but it remained uncertain if these threats were carried out.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made a commitment to bring "significant changes to Gaza," hinting at the possibility of a ground offensive. Report say that more than 1,000 gunmen from Gaza were killed.
Reports also emerged of rocket fire originating from Lebanon and Syrian territory towards Israel, raising concerns about the conflict's potential expansion. Israeli forces responded with retaliatory actions.
"We do not yet know if these rockets were fired by the Syrian armed forces, by any of the many Iranian militias that exist and are welcomed by the Syrian regime, or Hezbollah or any other action," said Israel's Lieutenant Colonel Conricus.
"What we do know is that we retaliated fire toward the sources of fire, and currently the situation there is quiet."
With the escalating violence, numerous countries undertook efforts to evacuate their stranded citizens due to flight cancellations.
The conflict also spilled over into the West Bank and East Jerusalem, leading to casualties and injuries among Palestinians involved in clashes with Israeli forces.
