Headline: Israeli Military Operations Continue in Gaza Amid Iran’s Attack on Israel
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has been overshadowed by Iran’s recent attack on Israel, but Israeli military operations in Gaza persist as they aim to eliminate Hamas, the armed group controlling the territory.
Since Hamas led an attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, Israel has been focused on defeating Hamas and freeing hostages taken that day, with approximately 100 still held in Gaza. The war has taken a devastating toll, with local health authorities reporting over 33,000 deaths and the United Nations warning of a looming famine.
In southern Gaza, Israel has withdrawn its forces but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated plans to invade Rafah, the southernmost city, to eradicate Hamas’s battalions and destroy their tunnel networks. However, world leaders, including President Biden, have urged Israel to avoid invading Rafah due to the potential harm to civilians, as the city’s population has swelled to over a million with people seeking shelter and humanitarian aid.
In northern Gaza, Israel initiated a ground invasion in late October, resulting in widespread destruction through airstrikes and ground combat. While Israel claimed to have dismantled Hamas’s military structure in the area, a subsequent operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City revealed the return of Hamas fighters. The hospital, once the largest in Gaza, was left in ruins.
In central Gaza, Israeli troops remain to guard a road built for military operations, with a shift towards targeted raids rather than wider assaults. Despite the capacity for airstrikes across Gaza, Israel has faced criticism for attacks on humanitarian convoys, including one that killed seven aid workers near Deir al Balah.
Experts acknowledge Israel’s success in weakening Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, through airstrikes and ground combat. However, Hamas still maintains significant organizational and military capacity, particularly in southern Gaza where their tunnel network provides protection. The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains at large, indicating that Hamas will continue to pose a threat as an insurgent force.
The conflict in Gaza continues to evolve as Israel presses on with its military operations, despite the challenges and criticisms it faces on the international stage.
