In a significant escalation, the Israeli military has expanded its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, targeting densely populated urban refugee camps in the central part of the territory. Reports from residents in Gaza indicate shelling and airstrikes in the Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij camps. These camps house Palestinians whose families were displaced during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s independence.
Simultaneously, top officials of the United States held a meeting with Israel’s minister for strategic affairs at the White House in Washington, reflecting international pressure for a ceasefire.
Israeli Military Operations and Casualties
The Israeli military announced the death of three more soldiers, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in the conflict to 161. The military intensified its offensive in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the area known as the Central Camps, comprising several refugee camps in central Gaza.
Israel’s military chief, Herzi Halevi, stated that the war on Hamas is expected to last for months. He emphasized the determination and persistence required in dismantling a terrorist organization, expressing the intention to reach Hamas’s leadership.
In response to ongoing hostilities, protests erupted near the homes of White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, with demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
International Diplomacy and Discussions
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed efforts to bring home remaining hostages from Gaza and transition to a different phase of the war to focus on high-value Hamas targets. President Joe Biden and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also discussed the release of hostages and efforts to enhance humanitarian aid.
Cross-Border Incidents and Flare-Up in Northern Israel
An anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit a structure on the grounds of a church in northern Israel. While the church itself was not struck, a nearby shed was damaged, and an 87-year-old man was injured. This incident is part of an escalation of violence along Israel’s northern border with the Lebanese group Hezbollah, sparked by the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
US CENTCOM’s Interception of Houthi Projectiles
In the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) intercepted projectiles fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The USS Laboon, a guided-missile destroyer, and F-18 fighter jets successfully shot down 12 attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two cruise missiles launched by the Houthis over a 10-hour period. No ships were damaged, and there were no reported injuries.
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