Israel Declares Combat Status in Gaza City as Offensive Ramps Up
On Friday, the Israeli military announced that it has initiated the early phases of an operation aimed at taking control of Gaza City, labeling it a 'dangerous combat zone'. With this, they have halted the daily humanitarian breaks in the hostilities within the city's borders, breaks that had previously allowed for essential supplies like food to be delivered during daylight.
Moving forward with their military campaign against Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that the remains of Ilan Weiss, one of the 251 civilians captured during Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, have been retrieved from the Gaza area.
Netanyahu further mentioned that the body of another hostage has been returned to Israeli territories, pending identification through forensic methods.
The commitment of Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu, has been evident over the past weeks. This escalation, which comes with an increased conscription of 60,000 military reservists, faced global disapproval instantly after being proclaimed.
Nations such as France, Britain, Canada, and Australia have expressed disapproval of Netanyahu's extensive offensive tactics in Gaza City.
In parallel, substantial numbers of Israeli civilians have organized demonstrations, urging Netanyahu to negotiate with Hamas for the safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza—about 50 remain with 20 believed to be alive.
The families of those captured have spearheaded initiatives such as a nationwide strike on August 16, emphasizing calls like 'War is not won on the backs of hostages.'
There is widespread anxiety among hostage relatives that the intensified military actions could put surviving captives at further risk. Yet, Netanyahu and the military remain resolute in their approach.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that the military would keep escalating its assaults until all captives are liberated and Hamas is dismantled.
U.S. President Donald Trump, a key supporter of Netanyahu, has advocated for an end to the conflict but his focus remains largely on post-conflict strategies rather than disapproval or approval of the ongoing offensive in Gaza City.
Social media posts on Friday showed scenes of large blasts near Gaza City.
The vicinity shelters an enormous number of displaced individuals who sought refuge from fighting in other destroyed parts of the Gaza Strip, locations which Israel denies targeting at present.
Gaza City houses many essential infrastructure and health facilities still operational. Recently, the Israeli military advised residents to evacuate southwards, describing the city’s evacuation as 'unavoidable.'
As the Gaza conflict nears the completion of its second year, the pressure is mounting on Netanyahu's administration to bring about conflict resolution and broaden humanitarian aid access.
According to data from the Hamas-operated Gaza Health Ministry, the ongoing war has led to 63,025 deaths, though they haven't differentiated between civilians and fighters in these reports.
While Israel questions the reported casualty figures, the United Nations considers them the most reliable due to the limitations on foreign journalists’ access and movement in Gaza since the conflict's inception.
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