Israel conducted a series of heavy airstrikes across the Gaza Strip in response to an earlier deadly incursion by Hamas militants in Israel. Eyewitnesses reported extensive damage to neighborhoods in Gaza City due to these Israeli airstrikes. The entire Gaza Strip is effectively blockaded, leaving Palestinian civilians with no means of escape, and about a tenth of Gaza’s population, around 2.3 million people, has been displaced and is seeking shelter.
Gaza has been under a blockade by Israel and Egypt for 16 years. The U.S. government is in talks to establish safe corridors for civilians, a move supported by the U.S. World Food Program for humanitarian purposes.
In recent days, there have been ongoing clashes between Hamas fighters and Israeli soldiers. Hamas militants fired approximately 5,000 rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to intensify its attacks on Gaza and prepare for a potential ground invasion.
The death toll in the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to rise, with at least 1,200 Israelis and around 950 Palestinians in Gaza reported dead, along with 1,000 Hamas militants inside Israel.
The sole power plant in Gaza is running out of fuel, leaving most people without electricity. Gaza’s hospitals, relying on generators, are also facing fuel shortages. Israel announced plans to cut off all electricity to the territory following a violent episode involving Hamas.
The United States sent its first shipment of weapons to Israel, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel to convey a message of solidarity and support.
In addition, President Biden reported that 14 Americans were killed in Israel, with more than 20 missing. Some Americans are among those held hostage by Hamas, although their number is reportedly small. There are also a larger number of unaccounted for Americans, some of whom may be part of the hostage group.
This conflict began on the Jewish Simchat Torah holiday and occurred a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War when Israel faced attacks from Arab countries. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, initiated a significant surprise attack along Israel’s southern border, employing paragliders, motorbikes, and boats for infiltration.
