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Israel has launched an offensive campaign against Iranian-backed Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has expanded its ground incursions and has published pictures of battle tanks on the western coast of Gaza. The second phase of the IDF’s three-week war initially went unnoticed due to the telecommunications blackout in the region. The blackout has made it difficult for rescue operations to be carried out and has hampered efforts to provide aid to the affected areas.

Despite the blackout, reports indicate that there has been heavy destruction in northern Gaza City, where the government and command centers of Hamas are located. In response, Hamas has fired mortars at Israeli forces and claims to have hit Israeli tanks with missiles. However, these claims have not been independently verified.

The IDF, on the other hand, has reported that it has struck over 450 Hamas targets in the past 24 hours, including operational command centers and missile launch posts. The military has also stated that several gunmen emerged from a tunnel near Israel’s border and were killed or wounded in a clash with troops. The IDF has said that it will gradually expand its ground activity in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. Medical authorities in Gaza have reported that over 8,000 people, including 3,324 minors, have been killed. The Gaza media office has stated that 116 medics and 35 journalists have also been killed, although these numbers have not been verified.

Amidst the conflict, there are concerns about regional overspill. In Lebanon, there have been exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. The United Nations’ Lebanon peacekeeping force UNIFIL has reported that one of its members was injured in the incidents. There have also been rocket or mortar launches from Lebanon into Israeli territory, which Israel has responded to with return fire. Hezbollah has claimed to have shot down an Israeli drone.

The situation in Gaza has prompted international calls for a “humanitarian pause” to allow aid to be delivered. Israel has announced that it will increase aid to Gaza and has instructed Palestinian civilians to head to a designated humanitarian zone in the south of the territory.

Protests in support of the Palestinians have taken place worldwide. Thousands of people rallied in Beirut to show solidarity with Gaza. The situation in Gaza has caused dire living conditions, with limited access to food and water for displaced Palestinians. The conflict shows no signs of ending, and there is a growing concern for the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire.

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