Israeli Military Strategically Isolates Northern Gaza Amid Escalation

Ahead of a prospective advance into the densely populated Gaza City, Israeli military operations have effectively isolated the northern region of Gaza from the remainder of the enclave. Amid escalating tensions, a large-scale funeral was conducted on Monday for the victims of attacks in the southern sector, where Israel had previously advised residents to seek shelter.

With Israeli forces on the brink of penetrating Gaza City, as reported by Israeli news outlets, and militants braced for a meticulous urban combat strategy, leveraging an extensive network of underground passages, the conflict is anticipated to intensify.

The toll of casualties is expected to surge for both parties involved in the month-long conflict. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 9,700 Palestinian fatalities, while around 1,400 Israelis, predominantly civilians, have perished due to Hamas’s initial aggressive actions that triggered the conflict. These numbers represent a dramatic escalation not seen in decades of strife.

In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli military announced it had bifurcated northern Gaza, marking a “significant stage” in the conflict. The military has assured that a corridor allowing civilians to evacuate to the south will remain open, despite the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remaining in Gaza City and other northern locales.

Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians, which accounts for about 70% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the outbreak of hostilities. Essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel are in critical shortage, with United Nations-managed shelters overflowing, leading to many individuals seeking refuge in outdoor areas.

A third blackout since the war’s inception affected mobile and internet services territory-wide, complicating efforts for civilians to find safety or reach emergency services. Services were reported to be incrementally reinstated on Monday by Palestinian telecoms and NetBlocks.org, an internet monitoring group.

Despite growing international pressure, including from the U.S., Israel has dismissed proposals for a ceasefire or a humanitarian pause that would allow aid delivery and address the predicament of the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas in their raid on October 7. Calls for a broader ceasefire from concerned neighboring Arab nations, some of which have peace treaties with Israel, have also been declined by Israel.

CONTINUED COVERAGE:

• UN officials report extreme food scarcity with average Gazans subsisting on minimal sustenance.
• The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza persists with grave humanitarian repercussions.
• Escalating tensions in the latest conflict mark the most severe since 2007.

Following a Middle East tour, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his diplomatic efforts in Turkey, having achieved only marginal progress towards a consensus for mitigating civilian hardships in Gaza.

The conflict has exacerbated regional discord, with exchanges of fire occurring between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. An incident in east Jerusalem saw a Palestinian assailant injure two members of Israel’s Border Police before being fatally shot, as reported by the police and witnessed by a Big Big News correspondent.

Israel’s 1967 territorial acquisitions, including east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, remain contentious with Palestinians aspiring to these territories for a prospective state. Despite international opposition, Israel annexed east Jerusalem, claiming the entire city as its capital.

In a novel maneuver, a Jordanian military aircraft delivered medical supplies to a field hospital in northern Gaza, as confirmed by King Abdullah II. This airdrop signals an additional method for delivering aid, supplementing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, which remains the primary ingress for assistance.

Although over 450 trucks of aid have entered Gaza from Egypt since October 21, humanitarian agencies declare the provisions inadequate for the growing demands of the 2.3 million Palestinian residents.

The northern part of Gaza is experiencing an acute water crisis due to a fuel shortage impacting water pumps, compounded by Israel’s suspension of the region’s main water supply. The United Nations reports significant damage to several water facilities, heightening the risk of sewage overflows. Conversely, Israel has restored water lines in central and southern Gaza, according to U.N. statements.

Around 800,000 individuals have evacuated northward following Israeli military directives, including 2,000 people who traversed the main highway on Sunday. One Palestinian, choosing to remain anonymous, expressed a plea for compassion, witnessing children encountering military tanks for the first time.

However, despite regions in central and southern Gaza being declared safer, Israeli airstrikes continued, resulting in numerous casualties on Sunday.

A mass funeral in Deir al-Balah mourned the loss of 66 individuals on Monday, with mourners gathering around the white-shrouded bodies laid outside a hospital morgue. Emotional scenes unfolded as a wounded man grieved over a young victim.

The military disclosed on Monday that overnight operations targeted 450 sites, including a Hamas compound, and proclaimed the elimination of a senior Hamas figure, Jamal Mussa, accused of attacking Israeli soldiers in 1993.

Since the commencement of the ground operation over a week ago, Israel has confirmed the deaths of thirty of its soldiers. Despite the ongoing rocket fire towards Israel, which has largely been neutralized or landed in open areas, Israeli communities near the Gaza and Lebanon borders have seen significant evacuations.

Late Sunday, an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon claimed the lives of four civilians, including three children, as reported by local defense officials and state media. The Israeli military responded to Hezbollah’s anti-tank missile attack, which resulted in one Israeli civilian fatality, with strikes on Hezbollah positions.

This coverage includes contributions from Magdy in Cairo, along with Big Big News correspondents Najib Jobain in Khan Younis, Amy Teibel and Sam McNeil in Jerusalem, and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut.

For comprehensive coverage, visit Big Big News – Israel-Hamas Conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gaza Conflict

More about Gaza Conflict

• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
• NetBlocks Internet Access Advocacy
• Israel Defense Forces Official Statements
• U.S. Department of State – Middle East Issues
• Palestinian Health Ministry Updates
• Egypt’s Rafah Crossing Information
• Comprehensive AP Coverage of the Israel-Hamas Conflict