RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes in Gaza overnight, targeting various locations. Additional airstrikes were carried out on two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank that allegedly housed militants. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has already lasted for two weeks, is threatening to escalate into a larger confrontation. Meanwhile, tensions are high in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have clashed with militants in refugee camps and launched airstrikes in recent days.
Israel has been on the verge of launching a ground offensive in Gaza as part of its response to the deadly rampage by Hamas on October 7. Tanks and a large number of troops have been stationed at the border, and Israeli leaders have hinted at further operations without providing details.
Israel has urged people to evacuate North Gaza, even dropping leaflets from the air. While an estimated 700,000 people have already left the area, hundreds of thousands remain. This raises the risk of significant civilian casualties if a ground assault were to occur.
Israeli military officials have claimed that Hamas’ infrastructure and underground tunnel system are concentrated in Gaza City. They have signaled that the next stage of the offensive will involve using unprecedented force in the city. Israel aims to eliminate Hamas but has also mentioned the possibility of creating a buffer zone to prevent Palestinians from approaching the border.
On Saturday, a convoy of 20 trucks carrying aid was allowed to enter Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing. This was the first time that any supplies had reached the territory since Israel imposed a complete siege two weeks ago. However, aid workers have said that this amount of assistance is far from enough to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Due to the dire situation, hospitals are running low on medical supplies and fuel for generators, forcing doctors to perform surgeries without proper equipment and medications.
The World Health Organization has warned that at least 130 premature babies are at “grave risk” due to a shortage of generator fuel. Additionally, seven hospitals in northern Gaza have been forced to close due to damage from airstrikes, lack of power and supplies, or Israeli evacuation orders. The critical shortage of supplies such as ventilators has led doctors to ration treatment, resulting in overcrowded and poorly equipped medical facilities.
Palestinians who have sought shelter in U.N.-run schools and tent camps are running out of food and drinking dirty water. The power blackout has also severely impacted water and sanitation systems. As a result, there has been an increase in cases of chickenpox, scabies, and diarrhea due to the lack of clean water.
Heavy airstrikes have been reported throughout Gaza, particularly in the southern part of the strip, where Israeli forces have advised civilians to seek refuge. The Israeli military claims to be targeting Hamas members and installations but has stated that it does not intentionally target civilians. In retaliation, Palestinian militants have fired over 7,000 rockets at Israel, with Hamas claiming responsibility for targeting Tel Aviv on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with his Cabinet on Saturday to discuss the imminent ground invasion. The military spokesperson has said that Israel plans to intensify airstrikes as a prelude to the “next stages of the war.”
Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, the majority of whom were civilians. At least 212 people have been captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza, including men, women, children, and older adults. Two Americans were released as a humanitarian gesture. In Gaza, more than 4,300 people have lost their lives, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. However, there is controversy surrounding the actual number of casualties, including fatalities resulting from a hospital explosion.
Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the international airports in the capital, Damascus, and the northern city of Aleppo. The airstrikes resulted in one fatality and damage to the runways, rendering them inoperable. Israel has carried out several strikes in Syria, including on the airports, citing the prevention of arms shipments from Iran, which supports Hezbollah and Hamas.
In Lebanon, militant group Hezbollah announced that six of its fighters were killed on Saturday. The deputy leader of Hezbollah warned that if Israel launches a ground offensive in Gaza, it will face severe consequences. In response to rocket fire, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets early Sunday.
Israel has also initiated evacuation plans for 14 additional communities near the border with Lebanon. Kiryat Shmona, which has a population of over 20,000 people, was already told to evacuate last week.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces, arrest raids, and attacks by Jewish settlers. Israeli forces have closed crossings into the territory and implemented checkpoints between cities in an effort to prevent attacks. Since October 7, Israel has arrested more than 700 Palestinians, including 480 suspected Hamas members. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, cooperates with Israel on security matters but is deeply unpopular and often targeted by violent protests.
Early on Sunday, Israeli forces killed at least five people in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Two individuals were killed in an airstrike on a mosque in the town of Jenin, which has witnessed intense gun battles between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops in recent months. Israeli military officials have claimed that the mosque compound belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, who have carried out several attacks and were planning another one.
Sunday’s fatalities bring the total death toll in the West Bank to 90 Palestinians since the beginning of the war on October 7. Most of the deaths have occurred during clashes with Israeli forces or violent protests.
Magdy reported from Cairo, while Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Contributions to this report have been made by Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Samya Kullab in Baghdad, Bassem Mroue in Beirut, and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria.
