Ambush kills 7 Israeli soldiers in Gaza City, where battles rage weeks into devastating offensive

Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza City during an ambush, as reported by Israeli media on Wednesday. This incident occurred amidst ongoing heavy resistance faced by the Israeli army in its offensive against Hamas, which has been internationally condemned and has elicited rare criticism from the U.S. for causing thousands of civilian deaths.

The Biden administration has persistently urged Israel to better protect Palestinian civilians. Despite this, the U.S. has hindered global calls for a cease-fire and expedited military support to Israel. Meanwhile, Israel has dismissed American proposals for a post-conflict strategy aimed at rejuvenating the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.

Since Hamas’s attack on October 7 that sparked the conflict, the combined air and ground assault has resulted in over 18,400 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians. Approximately 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and the northern region of Gaza now bears a desolate, moon-like appearance.

Israeli forces continue to engage in intense battles with Palestinian militants in and around Gaza City, over six weeks after the initial invasion of northern Gaza. Intense combat persisted through Tuesday night and into Wednesday in various areas, with the neighborhood of Shijaiyah experiencing particularly severe clashes.

As the Israeli offensive in Gaza advances, despite U.S. criticism, various incidents, including videos showing soldiers’ misconduct, have added to Israel’s challenges. The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, reflecting the growing global outcry.

The southern part of Gaza has also seen immense suffering, as hundreds of thousands have fled there on Israeli orders since the conflict began. The region has been repeatedly targeted by aerial bombardments, exacerbating the collapse of healthcare and humanitarian aid systems in Gaza due to the fighting and Israel’s blockade. Aid workers are raising alarms about potential starvation and disease spread among displaced persons in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

Heavy rains have further worsened conditions in tent camps, like those in the barren coastal area of Muwasi, designated by Israel as a refuge zone. Recent Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, a southern province, have resulted in multiple civilian casualties, including children and the elderly. Israel typically refrains from commenting on specific strikes but maintains that it aims to avoid civilian casualties, blaming the high toll on Hamas’s tactics of using civilian areas for military purposes.

President Biden has expressed concerns to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israel’s diminishing international support due to its “indiscriminate bombing.” He suggested a change in Israel’s government, which is heavily influenced by right-wing parties. Nonetheless, the Israeli offensive, led by a war cabinet that includes centrist figures, enjoys broad support among Israelis.

Global outrage continues to grow. The U.N. General Assembly’s recent non-binding resolution, calling for a humanitarian cease-fire, reflects the widespread international sentiment against the conflict. Despite this, the U.S. has pushed Israel to minimize civilian casualties without significant success.

The deaths in Gaza exceed 18,400, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. The ministry’s data, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, indicates that the majority of the deceased are women and children.

Israel and the U.S. are at odds over post-war strategies. They agree that a cease-fire leaving Hamas in power would signify a victory for the militant group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is committed to Israel’s destruction. However, they differ on the aftermath of Hamas’s potential defeat. The U.S. aspires to revive the peace process and integrate the Palestinian Authority into Gaza’s governance, whereas Netanyahu’s administration firmly opposes Palestinian statehood and insists on Israel’s indefinite security control over Gaza.

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More about Gaza City ambush

• Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Ambush
• Biden Administration’s Stance on Gaza Conflict
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• Ongoing Combat in Gaza City
• UN General Assembly Resolution on Gaza Cease-Fire