Title: Israeli Forces Launch Largest Ground Assault in Gaza; Hospitals Struggle to Cope with Rising Palestinian Casualties
Israeli forces have initiated the most substantial ground assault in Gaza since the ceasefire with Hamas collapsed last week, intensifying the conflict that has already claimed numerous lives on both sides. The onslaught has resulted in a surge in Palestinian casualties, putting immense pressure on Gaza’s already overburdened hospitals.
General Yaron Finkelman, the commander of the Israeli military’s Southern Command, asserted that this marked the most intense day of combat since the commencement of the ground operation. Israeli forces are heavily engaged in Jabalia, a densely populated refugee camp and a known Hamas stronghold. They are also clashing in Shuja’iyya and Khan Younis, where fierce resistance from the militant group persists.
Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, boasts that it has destroyed or damaged 24 Israeli military vehicles, along with causing casualties among Israeli soldiers. Gaza health officials have reported a high number of casualties resulting from an Israeli strike on residential buildings in Deir al-Balah, north of Khan Younis.
In light of the ongoing intensity, Israeli forces have issued leaflets instructing residents in six districts of Khan Younis to remain indoors in shelters and hospitals for their own safety. Encircling the Khan Younis area, the Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, emphasizes that their objective is to dismantle Hamas’ strongholds.
Reacting to the Israeli assault, Hamas declared that further negotiations or exchanges of detainees would be suspended until the Israeli “aggression” against Gaza ends. The United States has called upon Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and take additional measures to minimize harm to civilians.
Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has condemned the Israeli onslaught in Gaza and stressed the need for accountability for the lives lost. Approximately 80% of Gaza’s population has been displaced due to the Israeli bombardments, leading to overcrowding in the southern areas where people have sought shelter.
Hospitals, including the main Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, are overwhelmed with an influx of wounded individuals, further exacerbating the critical healthcare situation. Moreover, despite Israel posting evacuation advice online, Gazans claim that there is no safe place, as they continue to be targeted even in areas marked as potential safe zones.
As the conflict rages on, thousands of people are fleeing on foot, desperately seeking refuge. However, Israel’s bombing campaigns persist, even in the very areas they advise people to seek shelter, creating a sense of uncertainty and fear among the Gazan population.
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