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Israeli troops and tanks conducted a brief raid in northern Gaza on Thursday, engaging with Hamas fighters and targeting anti-tank weapons in preparation for a potential ground invasion. This marked the third Israeli raid since the start of the conflict, which has seen devastating airstrikes and has resulted in thousands of casualties and over a million people displaced in the densely-populated Gaza Strip.

Arab leaders issued a joint plea for a ceasefire to alleviate civilian suffering and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, where residents are facing shortages of food, water, and medicine. The United Nations workers are also running out of fuel to support relief efforts.

The death toll in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with the Health Ministry reporting over 7,000 Palestinians killed in the fighting. However, this figure has not been independently verified. Israel has reported the deaths of over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in the initial Hamas attack.

Satellite photos have shown the extensive damage caused by the bombardment in Gaza, with entire residential buildings reduced to rubble. New strikes on Thursday leveled more homes, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. The Israeli military claimed to have killed one of the masterminds behind the October 7 massacre, accusing Hamas of operating among civilians to protect its fighters.

Palestinian militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel, causing minimal casualties. However, Hamas claimed that Israeli bombardment has killed around 50 of the at least 224 hostages taken during their assault.

The conflict has raised concerns of wider regional escalation, with Hezbollah in Lebanon engaging in intermittent clashes with Israel along the border. The United States has sent additional military assets to the region in response.

Israel has expressed its aim to cripple Hamas’ capacity to govern Gaza and threaten Israel, while maintaining that it does not intend to reoccupy the territory. However, a ground offensive could prove challenging, given Hamas’ established presence in Gaza.

The recent raid served as part of Israel’s preparations for future stages of the war. The military also conducted approximately 250 airstrikes targeting militant infrastructure across Gaza. The reported death toll of 7,000 is more than three times the number of Palestinians killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

Concerns over the humanitarian situation are growing as fuel supplies deplete, hindering relief efforts. Israel continues to block fuel deliveries, suspecting Hamas will divert it for military use. A significant portion of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with many seeking refuge in UN shelters.

While Egypt has allowed the entry of aid trucks into Gaza, the amount remains insufficient to address the crisis at hand.

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