Israel has launched a ground operation in northern Gaza, expanding its military efforts amidst escalating tensions with Hamas. The conflict has resulted in at least 85 Palestinian fatalities in Israeli air strikes since midnight, bringing the total to over 500 since Tuesday.
Hamas fired three rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday, with one intercepted and the others falling into uninhabited land. Israel says it is creating a “partial buffer” between northern and southern Gaza through targeted ground activities.
At least 591 people, including over 200 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes since Tuesday, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa reported five staff members killed in the past few days, with many more injured.
Israel and Hamas failed to agree on a ceasefire extension beyond March 1, and Israel has accused Hamas of rejecting every hostage deal. The US supports Israel in its actions, while the UK has confirmed one of its nationals was wounded in a compound attack.
As tensions continue to rise, thousands of Israelis joined anti-Netanyahu protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, calling for the return of hostages. Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Israel on Thursday, which was intercepted by the IDF before entering the country.
The conflict began with Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel, resulting in over 48,500 Palestinian fatalities and widespread destruction. The situation remains dire, with many more lives lost and displaced.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2dr7jd7mno