Israeli troops encircle Gaza City; international pressure for ceasefire and humanitarian aid grows.
Israeli soldiers have encircled Gaza City and are engaged in “face-to-face battles” with Hamas as part of a ground invasion, according to the Israeli military. This operation is expected to be a prolonged and intense conflict.
The escalating ground invasion and ongoing airstrikes have put Israel under mounting international pressure to either halt the campaign or temporarily suspend hostilities with Hamas, enabling humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
Upon the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Israel, he is expected to propose a series of brief cessations of military operations in Gaza, referred to as “humanitarian pauses.” These pauses aim to ensure the safe release of hostages and facilitate the distribution of essential aid. It’s worth noting that this request differs from a comprehensive ceasefire, which the Biden administration believes might favor Hamas.
Israeli officials have consistently rebuffed calls to stop or temporarily pause the fighting, emphasizing their goal of dismantling Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that holds control over Gaza.
The Israeli military disclosed that they have targeted over 12,000 sites in Gaza since the conflict began. According to Gazan officials, the Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the loss of more than 9,000 lives in Gaza.
