Tel Aviv:Israel's military has announced the encirclement of Gaza City, the stronghold of the Hamas-governed enclave, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that they are at the "height of the battle”, a week after the IDF expanded their ground operations.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari, addressing journalists, stated that the encirclement aimed to target the "centre of the Hamas terror organization." Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, Hagari emphasized that a ceasefire is not currently on the table.
Netanyahu, providing an update on the situation, claimed impressive successes and noted the advancement of Israeli forces beyond the outskirts of Gaza City. The military's stated priorities include rescuing hostages held by Hamas and ensuring that the group no longer poses a threat to Israelis.
In response to these developments, Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, issued a warning, proclaiming that Gaza would be the "curse of history for Israel" and threatening that Israeli soldiers entering the enclave would go home "in black bags."
The United States, while expressing support for a humanitarian "pause" in fighting to facilitate the release of captives held by Hamas, clarified that it did not back a full ceasefire. Instead, the Biden administration would advocate for temporary, localized pauses in fighting to enable aid delivery and the release of hostages.
Seven UN special rapporteurs issued a statement urging a ceasefire in Gaza, expressing concern about the "grave risk of genocide" faced by Palestinians. The condemnation of Israel's assault has intensified, particularly following air raids on the Jabalia refugee camp, resulting in at least 195 deaths and numerous injuries.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights raised the possibility of war crimes, citing the "high number of civilian casualties" and the "scale of destruction" at the refugee camp. Israel argued that the air raids targeted a Hamas commander and a "vast" network of tunnels beneath the camp.
As the conflict persists, the toll on Gaza continues to rise, with at least 9,061 Palestinians killed in the bombardment, initiated by Israeli forces in response to Hamas's October 7 attacks on communities in southern Israel in which around 1,400 Israelis are estimated to have been killed.