Despite growing international appeals for a ceasefire, Israel has reasserted its threat of a potential ground operation in the Gaza Strip, where the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari has officially announced an intended escalation in the army’s actions against Gaza.
“We will deepen our attacks to minimise the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks from today”, Hagari stated. He also urged Gazans to relocate to the southern region for their own safety.
UN Agencies Demand Immediate Action
These renewed Israeli military threats come at a time when the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Recently, just 20 trucks carrying aid materials were allowed into the southern part of the strip through Egypt, which is home to a population of 2.1 million, making it one of the world’s most densely populated areas.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a call for the continuous delivery of aid to Gaza, recognising the urgency of the situation.
Five UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme, have issued a joint statement, appealing for a ceasefire in Gaza. They highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the region, emphasising the need for immediate international action.
The situation has further deteriorated with fast-depleting fuel supplies in Gaza hospitals, endangering the lives of 130 premature babies, as reported by the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
Continued Bombardment in Gaza
Israel continued its bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, with reports of an air strike on a shopping plaza. The attack resulted in an estimated nine fatalities and the destruction of several shops.
The war in Gaza has taken a heavy toll, with Saturday-Sunday overnight shelling alone resulting in the deaths of at least 55 Palestinians. According to the Middle East Eye, Israel has been responsible for an average of 300 casualties daily in Gaza since 7 October, with 70 percent of the victims being children, women and the elderly.
The Palestinian death toll since 7 October stands at over 4,385.
Expanding Conflict in the Region
Outside Gaza, an Israeli air strike targeted the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinian medical workers and the wounding of several others. The IDF confirmed its involvement in the air raid. They also bombed a mosque in the city in a pre-dawn airstrike.
In parallel, Israeli troops have intensified raids on the occupied West Bank, including areas in Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah.
On Sunday morning, shortly after the mosque bombing in Jenin, Israeli intelligence officers called the families of Jenin fighters, telling them that if their sons did not surrender by Monday morning they would be assassinated.
Additionally, Israel carried out air strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, adding to growing tensions in that region.
Israeli missile strikes also hit Damascus and Aleppo international airports in Syria, leading to the death of at least two airport workers and the temporary shutdown of both facilities.
Israeli Evacuation Plans
Israel has announced plans to subsidise the evacuation of residents from 14 towns along the border with Lebanon due to ongoing clashes between the IDF and Hezbollah. This follows a recent decision by the Israeli army to evacuate residents from 28 communities located within 2 kilometres of the Lebanese border.
Hamas Hostage Release Offer
After releasing two US citizen hostages on Friday, Hamas claimed that they intended to release two further Israeli hostages for “humanitarian reasons, and without expecting anything in return”. But, they said, the Israeli government refused to accept this offer. Israel, in response, described the allegation as “false propaganda”.
