Israeli ground forces engaged in deadly battles with Hamas militants in Gaza on Monday, as tanks were deployed to the outskirts of the largest city and airstrikes continued to bombard the besieged Palestinian territory. The escalating military campaign, which began after Hamas attacks on October 7, has raised concerns for the well-being of the 2.4 million civilians trapped in Gaza. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reports that over 8,300 people have died as a result.
The worsening situation has led to fears about the growing humanitarian crisis and the fate of hospitals in the war zone. The World Health Organisation warns that many patients cannot be safely moved despite Israel’s evacuation order. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas following their attack, which claimed the lives of 1,400 people and took over 230 hostages, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
The attack ignited the bloodiest Gaza war ever recorded, characterized by extensive aerial bombardment and three consecutive nights of ground operations in northern Gaza. Israeli forces have urged civilians to evacuate the area. In intense overnight clashes, the Israeli army claimed to have killed dozens of militants who were hiding in buildings and tunnels. Fighter jets also targeted a building housing over 20 Hamas operatives.
Videos released by the army showed columns of Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers maneuvering through the sand, while snipers took positions in vacant residential buildings. Witnesses reported that dozens of Israeli tanks advanced into the southern outskirts of Gaza City, blocking the main north-south highway and firing at any vehicle attempting to pass. Air strikes caused destruction to the road and buildings before the tanks eventually withdrew.
Israeli ground forces were supported by heavy fire from fighter jets, drones, and artillery, which targeted more than 600 locations within 24 hours. Hamas retaliated by firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli armored vehicles. The militant group accused Israel of attempting to deceive the international community by falsely claiming that its soldiers were present in Gaza, despite the resistance’s successful efforts to prevent their infiltration.
Hamas released a video showing three women hostages seated against a tile wall, demanding Netanyahu agree to a proposed exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu denounced the video as “cruel psychological propaganda” and identified the hostages as Yelena Trupanob, Daniel Aloni, and Rimon Kirsht. He pledged to bring all abducted and missing individuals back safely.
The hostages, including infants and elderly individuals, are believed to be held in a vast network of underground tunnels, which Hamas has used to conceal its military infrastructure from Israeli surveillance and air attacks. The German-Israeli Shani Louk, who was captured by Hamas fighters during an assault on a music festival in the Israeli desert, was confirmed dead by Israel’s foreign ministry.
Fear and desperation have intensified in Gaza, which has been under siege for weeks, resulting in a shortage of water, food, fuel, and other essential supplies. The United Nations reported incidents of civil unrest, with thousands of people ransacking warehouses in search of basic necessities. Donkey carts lined up to collect water, as clean drinking water has become scarce.
According to the UN, all ten hospitals in northern Gaza have received evacuation orders, despite housing thousands of patients and approximately 117,000 displaced individuals. Among those being treated are intensive care patients, infants, and the elderly who rely on life support systems. The World Health Organisation expressed deep concern over calls to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, stating that it would endanger the lives of patients.
Residents seeking refuge in Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, reported intense Israeli airstrikes causing the ground to shake. Israel has identified the hospital as a de facto Hamas command center and headquarters. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating and cautioned against the collective punishment of Palestinians.
US President Joe Biden emphasized to Netanyahu that while Israel has the right to self-defense, it must prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza.
Limited aid has been provided from Egypt under a US-brokered agreement, but the volume falls far short of what aid agencies deem necessary. Anti-Israel sentiment has surged throughout the region and beyond. In Russia’s Muslim-majority Dagestan, police arrested 60 individuals after a crowd stormed an airport to attack Jewish passengers arriving from Tel Aviv.
The United States has warned Israel’s enemies, particularly Iran-allied “axis of resistance” groups, against further involvement following a series of attacks across the Middle East. The Israeli army has exchanged cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon and targeted sites in Syria in response to launches towards Israeli territory. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that he is doing his utmost to prevent Lebanon from being drawn into the war.
Violence has also escalated in the occupied West Bank, with health officials reporting the deaths of approximately 120 Palestinians since the start of the Gaza war. Germany has called on Israel to protect Palestinians in the West Bank from attacks by extremist Israeli settlers. In annexed East Jerusalem, a knife-wielding Palestinian stabbed and seriously wounded an Israeli police officer before being shot dead by authorities.
