In a dramatic escalation of conflict, Israel’s Defence Minister declared on Tuesday that “Gaza is burning,” following a night of heavy airstrikes targeting Gaza City.
The situation on the ground has intensified as the Israeli military gears up for a new offensive aimed specifically at Gaza City. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route to Qatar, suggested that the offensive has already commenced, stating, “The Israelis have begun to take operations there. We believe we have a very short window of time for a diplomatic resolution. We don’t have months anymore; we might have just days or a few weeks left.”
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Tragic accounts from Palestinian residents depict a harrowing night. One strike devastated a home in the western part of Gaza City, claiming the lives of at least five Palestinians, including two innocent children, as reported by Shifa Hospital. Another strike affected several houses in the southwest, with medics combing through the rubble desperately searching for any survivors.
“It was a heavy night,” described Radwan Hayder, a resident who took shelter near the Shifa Hospital.
As the Israeli military has remained tight-lipped about the offensive details, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary Rubio reaffirmed on Monday that the only way to resolve the ongoing crisis is through dismantling Hamas and securing the release of 48 remaining hostages—around 20 of whom are believed to be alive. They are dismissing calls for an interim ceasefire for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Hamas, however, has asserted that any release of the hostages will hinge on the release of Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The current conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, leading to the deaths of roughly 1,200 people—most of whom were civilians—and the abduction of 251 hostages. While many hostages have been released through ceasefires facilitated by Qatar and other negotiations, the humanitarian toll on Gaza continues to rise. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli retaliatory strikes have claimed the lives of at least 64,871 Palestinians, with the toll including a significant number of women and children, although exact figures on civilians versus combatants remain unclear.
As the situation develops, the world watches, holding its breath for any signs of hope amid the devastation.