Israel Escalates Military Operations and Announces Total Siege on Gaza Following Surprise Hamas Attack

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Israel’s military is conducting extensive operations in the country’s southern regions to locate Hamas fighters, fortify breaches in its border fence, and carry out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. These actions come in response to an unprecedented weekend incursion by Hamas, which has prompted Israel to declare a state of war and initiate a potential ground assault on the Hamas-controlled territory.

Hamas’s surprise attack from Gaza caught Israel’s highly regarded military and intelligence apparatus off guard, resulting in intense battles within Israeli streets for the first time in decades. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to dismantle both the military and governing capabilities of the entrenched militant group, deeply rooted in Gaza.

Israel’s military has launched over 1,000 airstrikes in Gaza and deployed tanks and drones to secure openings in the border fence, preventing further infiltrations. Simultaneously, Palestinian militants continue to launch rocket barrages, triggering air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There were reports of a plume of smoke near Ben Gurion International Airport, although casualties and damage from this latest bombardment are yet to be confirmed.

Civilian casualties have already been substantial, with around 700 people killed in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza. Additionally, Palestinian militant groups claim to have taken over 130 captives from the Israeli side.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, which includes cutting off electricity and blocking the entry of food and fuel. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007.

The situation has escalated to the point where dehumanizing language has been used, with Gallant referring to the conflict as a war with “human animals.”

After intense battles within Israel, the military announced control over its border communities, with some isolated incidents reported early Monday. Evacuation efforts for these border communities are ongoing, with 15 out of 24 already emptied.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua confirmed that the group’s fighters are still engaged in battles outside Gaza and have captured more Israelis, even as of Monday morning. Hamas’s objective includes securing the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a goal that has led to past lopsided exchange deals.

In its airstrikes, Israel has targeted locations in Gaza, including the town of Beit Hanoun, which Hamas was allegedly using as a staging ground for attacks. The extent of casualties is yet to be determined.

Israel has called up around 300,000 reservists in a massive mobilization effort. The primary goal remains the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, despite the group’s continued rule over Gaza since 2007, even through previous conflicts and blockades.

Hamas’s initial incursion involved breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives, leading to the capture of soldiers and civilians, including women, children, and older adults. The number of captives is described as “significant.”

As the conflict rages on, residents in Gaza fear further escalation. Israeli airstrikes have already caused significant damage to housing units and claimed civilian lives.

The situation has regional implications, with the U.S. dispatching an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel. Meanwhile, concerns of a broader regional war arose briefly after an exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, although the Israeli military reported a return to calm in that area.

Elsewhere, clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the West Bank resulted in the deaths of six Palestinians on Sunday.

This ongoing conflict underscores the deep-seated tensions and unresolved issues in the region, with the prospect of peace negotiations appearing distant as Israel’s far-right government remains opposed to Palestinian statehood.

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• Hamas and Gaza’s history