Jerusalem – In a press conference held earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the commencement of the second phase of the Gaza conflict. Israeli forces have intensified their ground operations against Hamas militants with a resolute commitment to “destroy the enemy both above and below ground.”
The people of Gaza have found themselves isolated from the outside world, as Israeli jets continued to bombard the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave. Military officials hinted at a forthcoming ground offensive that has long been anticipated.
Addressing the media in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu cautioned the Israeli public to brace for a “lengthy and challenging” military campaign but stopped short of labeling the ongoing Israeli ground actions as a full-scale invasion. He reiterated Israel’s appeal to Palestinian civilians in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate, as Israel directed its focus on this region, also pledging efforts to rescue over 200 hostages held by Hamas.
Netanyahu emphasized the objectives of this second stage of the conflict, which include incapacitating Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and ensuring the safe return of the hostages. “We are just getting started,” he declared. “We will eradicate the enemy both above and below ground.”
Israel had tightened its blockade and subjected Gaza to airstrikes for three weeks following an October 7th assault by the Islamist group Hamas, which resulted in the deadliest day in Israel’s 75-year history, claiming the lives of 1,400 Israelis.
While many Western countries have supported what they consider Israel’s right to self-defense, there has been mounting international concern over the civilian casualties resulting from the bombings and growing calls for a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.
Health authorities in the densely populated Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, have reported the loss of 7,650 Palestinian lives during Israel’s campaign against the militants.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs parts of the West Bank, while Gaza is under Hamas rule, characterized the situation as a “genocidal war and massacres committed by Israeli occupation forces, witnessed by the entire world.”
With numerous buildings reduced to rubble and limited access to shelter, Gazans are grappling with shortages of essential supplies, including food, water, fuel, and medicines. The situation worsened as phone and internet services were cut on Friday night, followed by an intensified wave of bombings.
One Gaza journalist described a terrifying night, with no means to call for ambulances, as mobile phones were rendered useless and emergency services were struggling with fuel shortages.
Israel’s chief military spokesperson declined to confirm responsibility for the telecommunications blackout in Gaza but emphasized that Israel would take necessary measures to protect its forces.
Though a full-scale invasion wasn’t evident, Israel disclosed that troops and armor sent into Gaza on Friday night were still actively engaged in the field, focusing on dismantling infrastructure, particularly the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas.
Israel encouraged Gazans to move to the south, alleging that Hamas was using civilian buildings, particularly in the north, for concealment. Palestinians contested that nowhere was safe, as bombs continued to devastate homes in various parts of the territory.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern, stating, “A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes.”
Various international aid agencies reported difficulty in contacting their staff in Gaza. However, a representative from the International Committees of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Gaza, William Schomburg, managed to send an audio message. Schomburg conveyed the relentless efforts of medics working round the clock, even while grappling with personal tragedies.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk offered SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to support communications in Gaza for internationally recognized aid organizations. Israel raised concerns about the potential misuse of the technology for terrorist activities.
Footage from the Israeli side showed explosions in Gaza, with plumes of smoke rising from destroyed buildings. Hamas alleged that it was on the verge of reaching an agreement with Israel regarding the release of more than 200 hostages in Gaza, but Israel had stalled the process.
While negotiations mediated by Qatar to de-escalate the situation continued, they were progressing more slowly following the escalation on Friday. Last week, Qatar’s efforts led to the release of two American hostages and two elderly Israeli women.
In the latest developments, Israeli jets targeted the head of Hamas’ aerial wing, Asem Abu Rakaba, a key figure in the October 7th attack. Warplanes also struck 150 underground targets in northern Gaza, including Hamas tunnels and combat facilities, resulting in casualties within the group.
Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam brigades, reported clashes between its fighters and Israeli troops in Gaza’s northeastern town of Beit Hanoun and the central area of Al-Bureij, vowing to confront the aggression with full force.
As calls from the United States and Western countries urged Israel to hold off on a ground offensive to avoid high Palestinian casualties and a broader conflict, the situation in the region remained precarious.
Hamas enjoys support from Iran, which also backs militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The United States has faced threats from Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, prompting an increase in the deployment of military assets in the region.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant affirmed that Israel had no intention of expanding the conflict beyond Gaza but remained prepared on all fronts. Moreover, Israel reported a new exchange of fire on the border with Lebanon, marking the most serious border clashes since 2006.
The crisis has triggered pro-Palestinian demonstrations in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with participants emphasizing the need to protect Palestinian lives.