Israel Hamas War: In a devastating escalation of violence, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the loss of more than 700 lives within a 24-hour period, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. This significant surge in casualties comes as Israeli bombing attacks in the region continue to intensify. Israel’s offensive in Gaza was initiated in response to an earlier attack by Hamas militants on southern Israeli towns, beginning on October 7th.
Israeli forces near the southern border with Gaza remain on standby and are undergoing training as they await further directives from Israel’s civilian leaders, as stated by the Israeli military’s chief spokesman on Tuesday.
A strike near a shopping center in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in casualties, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. Videos circulating on social media depicted panicked individuals and injured people being transported in shopping carts.
In Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, residents continued their search for missing family members in the rubble following an airstrike, according to an eyewitness journalist.
The Israel Defense Forces announced earlier on Tuesday that they had targeted over 400 “terror targets” in the past day, resulting in the deaths of “several Hamas commanders and numerous operatives.”
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The US is expressing concerns regarding Israel’s current military objectives in Gaza. Senior administration officials have indicated that the Israel Defense Forces may not be fully prepared to execute a ground invasion with a viable plan. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has emphasized the importance of carefully considering the strategy for a potential ground invasion in his conversations with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. This consideration is particularly crucial due to the presence of intricate tunnel networks maintained by Hamas under densely populated areas in Gaza.
While the Biden administration maintains that they have not issued directives to Israel, they continue to support the possibility of a ground invasion. The Pentagon has sent a three-star Marine, Lt. Gen. James Glynn, and other officers to assist the Israelis in addressing the challenges of urban warfare.
