Israeli Ground Operations Target Hamas in Gaza; Military Reports 800,000 Residents Displaced Southward

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On Tuesday, Israeli forces carried out ground offensives against Hamas fighters and their installations in the northern regions of Gaza. This move follows the evacuation of approximately 800,000 residents since the inception of the conflict over three weeks ago. Concurrently, Israeli aircraft have sustained their bombardment across the sealed Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to spurn calls for a ceasefire, fortified by the recent successful rescue of an Israeli captive held by Hamas. This event supports Netanyahu’s stance that the ongoing ground offensive will aid in the safe retrieval of additional hostages, rather than endangering them further. According to military sources, Pvt. Ori Megidish, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, was successfully recovered and is currently in stable condition with her family.

Hamas has offered to release remaining hostages in exchange for the liberation of thousands of Palestinians incarcerated by Israel—an offer that Israel has formally rejected. Meanwhile, a brief video displaying three additional female hostages was disseminated by Hamas on Monday.

Amid the hostilities, more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents have been forced to abandon their homes. Many have sought refuge in overcrowded United Nations-administered schools and hospitals, facilities that are now operating at four times their intended capacity. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reports that about 672,000 Palestinians are currently housed in its facilities, and scarcity of essential supplies has led to unauthorized raids on UNRWA warehouses.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted essential services in Gaza, leaving the region without central electricity for weeks. Israel has also obstructed the entry of fuel necessary for emergency generators in both hospitals and residential buildings. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini has accused Israel of enacting “collective punishment” on Palestinians and causing their forced migration within the Gaza Strip.

The unrest is not confined to the Israel-Gaza border; tensions have escalated with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants, and Israel has carried out strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria. On Tuesday, Israeli military intercepted a drone in the vicinity of the Red Sea city of Eilat, further fueling regional tensions.

Within the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army demolished the long-abandoned residence of Saleh al-Arouri, a high-ranking Hamas official. Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus clarified that operations within Gaza are concentrated in the north, notably Gaza City, termed the “center of gravity of Hamas.”

Despite warnings from the Israeli military to move southward, many residents remain in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. The Israeli military reported engagements with armed Palestinian militants and stated it had targeted approximately 300 militant positions in the past 24 hours.

In a late Monday press conference, Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed calls for a cease-fire, stating it would equate to an Israeli surrender to Hamas—a sentiment he firmly rejected.

The human toll continues to escalate. Palestinian fatalities have surpassed 8,300, a significant proportion of whom are women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israeli casualties stand at over 1,400, primarily civilians. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with essential healthcare facilities reporting damage and dwindling medical supplies.

Israel has permitted the entry of over 150 trucks filled with food and medical supplies from Egypt, albeit under strict inspection to ensure they are not appropriated by Hamas. According to the United Nations, two primary water lines in Gaza have been partially restored by Israel, although one failed after two weeks of operation and the other requires repairs.

This report was filed from Cairo. For further coverage, please visit Full AP Coverage.

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• UN Statements on Israel-Hamas Conflict
• Comprehensive AP Coverage on Israeli-Hamas War