Israeli forces cut off north Gaza as Palestinian death toll from monthlong war passes 10,000

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Israeli military operations have isolated northern Gaza, intensifying the assault with overnight airstrikes into Monday, a move signaling potential further incursions into the densely populated Gaza City. This escalation marks a continuation of the month-long conflict which has now seen over 10,000 Palestinian fatalities, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry on Monday. The ministry’s figures include an undifferentiated count of both combatants and non-combatants. Meanwhile, the conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 1,400 Israelis, predominantly civilians, following the incursion by Hamas on October 7, which initiated this round of hostilities.

The current confrontation has escalated into the deadliest since the formation of Israel 75 years ago, and the future appears bleak as Israel is determined to dismantle Hamas’s control and its military infrastructure.

Urban warfare looms as the next probable phase, with Israeli troops preparing to enter Gaza City, according to Israeli news outlets. It is anticipated that Palestinian militants, having fortified their positions over the years, will engage in intensive urban warfare, possibly leading to significant casualties.

Israeli military declared late Sunday that it has effectively severed the northern part of Gaza from the south, a significant maneuver in the ongoing conflict. They reported that their aircraft targeted 450 sites overnight and claimed the capture of a Hamas base. Despite the combat, a route to the south remains open for civilians to flee, as hundreds of thousands remain in Gaza City and northern areas.

Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians have been displaced since the onset of hostilities, with basic necessities like food, medicine, and water dwindling. United Nations shelters are overcrowded, forcing many to sleep in open areas.

Communications in the territory have been hit hard, with overnight outages reported for mobile phone and internet services, the third such occurrence since the conflict began. Services were partially restored on Monday, yet aid workers stress that these outages are a severe hindrance to civilians’ attempts to access emergency services.

Israeli officials have dismissed U.S. propositions for a ceasefire to enable humanitarian aid and the release of an estimated 240 hostages taken by Hamas. Likewise, Israel has turned away calls for a truce from neighboring Arab nations, despite existing peace accords with some.

In the midst of increasing diplomatic activities, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his regional tour without concrete outcomes, as negotiations for a humanitarian pause and plans post-Hamas remain ongoing.

The conflict has also heightened tensions regionally, with incidents of exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanese border. A Palestinian individual also attacked and wounded two members of Israel’s Border Police in east Jerusalem before being neutralized by the forces.

The complex history of the territories is underscored by Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast war, with Palestinians seeking these areas for a future state. Despite international opposition, Israel annexed east Jerusalem and maintains it as its undivided capital.

Aid efforts continue, with Jordan air-dropping medical supplies into northern Gaza. Despite the aid trucks from Egypt, the scarcity in Gaza is acute. Northern Gaza is particularly hard-hit with water shortages due to fuel scarcities and the destruction of water infrastructure.

Israel continues its bombardments across Gaza, with civilian casualties in areas declared safe by the military. Israel attributes these casualties to Hamas’s tactics of operating within civilian areas.

Mass funerals are taking place, as seen in Deir al-Balah where 66 victims were mourned outside a hospital. According to the Health Ministry, the death toll includes a substantial number of women and children.

The conflict has not been confined to Gaza alone, with an Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon reportedly killing civilians, including children. Israel stated it was responding to anti-tank fire from Hezbollah, which in turn launched rockets into Israel.

Israeli forces report the elimination of a senior Hamas militant, Jamal Mussa, and the death of 30 Israeli soldiers since the start of the ground offensive. Despite active air defenses, Palestinian rocket fire continues to disrupt life in Israel, leading to evacuations near Gaza and Lebanon.

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