Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment, battles to dislodge Hamas fighters from its territory

Israel escalated its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Monday, declaring war and pledging to dismantle the “military and governing capabilities” of the ruling Hamas faction in Gaza. Simultaneously, Israeli troops engaged in fierce battles to dislodge Gaza-based militants from areas in southern Israel.

The conflict has resulted in a devastating death toll, with at least 700 reported casualties in Israel and over 400 in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups have claimed to have taken more than 130 captives from Israel.

Despite more than 48 hours of ongoing combat, Israeli forces were still engaged in confrontations with militants at various locations. Special forces were deployed to regain control of four Israeli sites that had been infiltrated by Hamas fighters, including two kibbutzim. Footage released by Israeli police showed intense exchanges of gunfire between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

The declaration of war implied the likelihood of further escalation, raising the question of whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that could result in heightened casualties. Israel had mobilized approximately 100,000 reservists for this operation and aimed to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza.

The initial incursion by Hamas militants out of Gaza on Saturday resulted in significant casualties and chaos, with attacks on civilians and the abduction of people in various locations. Israel responded by targeting more than 800 sites in Gaza, including airstrikes that severely damaged the town of Beit Hanoun.

Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken captive over 130 individuals from inside Israel, with the intention of trading them for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Both Israeli and Gazan civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict, with Israeli towns near Gaza being evacuated, and over 123,000 Gazans displaced by the fighting. The destruction of housing units in Gaza had reached alarming numbers, according to the UN, with over 159 units destroyed and 1,210 others severely damaged.

The situation remained volatile, with airstrikes causing civilian casualties on both sides. Concerns also arose about the possibility of a wider regional conflict, as hostilities flared along the border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.

The presence of hostages in Gaza complicated Israel’s response, as negotiations for their safety became a pressing issue. Egypt had reportedly been involved in talks about a potential cease-fire, though Israel appeared hesitant to agree to one at that stage.

The conflict had wider regional implications, with tensions in the West Bank, increased Israeli settlement construction, and ongoing disputes around the Al-Aqsa mosque contributing to the volatile situation.

This conflict marked a significant and distressing development, with both Israel and Gaza experiencing a high human cost as the situation continued to evolve.

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More about Gaza-Israel Conflict

• Israel-Gaza conflict intensifies
• Hamas incursion into Israel
• Casualty numbers in Israel and Gaza
• Hostage situation in Israel
• Ceasefire efforts and regional tensions
• Context of the conflict
• International response to the conflict