The Israeli military announced that it has divided the Gaza Strip into two sections after a night of intense airstrikes. This move is aimed at making it more difficult for Hamas to control the enclave. Israeli forces surrounded Gaza City, which is heavily populated and located in the northern half of the Gaza Strip, effectively cutting it off from the south. Israeli officials have referred to the city as a Hamas stronghold. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, stated, “Essentially today there is a northern Gaza and a southern Gaza.” Despite this, Israeli leaders have not discussed partitioning Gaza or maintaining control over the territory, which was vacated by Israeli forces in 2005.
The extent of the fighting remains uncertain due to a communications blackout in Gaza, the third blackout since the start of the war nearly a month ago. Israel claims to have targeted 450 locations in Gaza overnight, and Israeli infantry units are reportedly engaged in close-quarters urban warfare. Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, reported widespread explosions and bombardment by Israeli aircraft and warships, with several hospitals being targeted and dozens of casualties reported.
The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 10,000 since the bombardment began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The United States estimates that the civilian toll is in the thousands. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken visited Turkey to address concerns that the war could escalate into a wider regional conflict. He stated that efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and prevent Iran from expanding the conflict were making progress. King Abdullah II of Jordan announced that his country’s air force had dropped urgent medical aid to a field hospital in Gaza, a move confirmed by the Israeli military.
The United States is focused on deterring Iran from getting involved in the conflict and has dispatched a nuclear-powered attack submarine to the region. Blinken has been unsuccessful in persuading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting. Netanyahu has demanded the release of hostages held by Hamas before considering any pauses. Families of the hostages held a protest outside Israel’s parliament, demanding more action to secure their release.
The war has caused immense distress for Palestinians with relatives in Gaza, worsened by communication blackouts. Many are constantly monitoring news and social media for updates and desperately trying to contact their loved ones. The fear and anxiety are heightened when internet and phone service are cut off. Palestinians around the world are living with constant worry and fear for the safety of their families.