JERUSALEM. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant announcement on Saturday, stating that the ongoing Gaza war has entered a new phase characterized by the deployment of ground forces into Gaza and an escalation of attacks from land, air, and sea. Netanyahu cautioned that this new phase would be both prolonged and arduous.
The intensification of Israeli military operations in Gaza has resulted in a disruption of communication networks in the besieged enclave, effectively isolating its 2.3 million residents from the outside world. Simultaneously, it has granted the Israeli military greater control over the narrative in this evolving phase of the conflict.
To underscore this, the Israeli military released images of tank columns advancing in open areas of Gaza, with many situated near the border. Warplanes carried out extensive strikes on numerous Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers. These underground sites have become a prime target in Israel’s mission to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities following the group’s incursion into Israel three weeks ago.
The escalation in military operations has amplified domestic pressure on Israel’s government to secure the release of dozens of hostages taken during a Hamas attack on October 7. Desperate family members met with Netanyahu to express support for a potential exchange of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, an idea that was suggested by the top Hamas leader in Gaza.
Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s commitment to bringing all the hostages back but refrained from discussing calls for a cease-fire. He highlighted that the expanding ground operation was an essential component in achieving this mission, citing the sensitive and secretive nature of these efforts.
“The second stage of the war has clear objectives: to dismantle the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and secure the return of the hostages,” Netanyahu declared during his first public interaction with journalists since the war’s commencement. He did not address the topic of a cease-fire.
The Israeli Prime Minister acknowledged the need for a comprehensive investigation into the “debacle” on October 7, in which over 1,400 people lost their lives. He indicated that all parties, including himself, would need to provide answers.
While the Israeli military has incrementally expanded its ground operations within Gaza, it has not yet described its actions as a full-scale invasion. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, mentioned an organized plan that involves staged escalation rather than an overwhelming offensive. Prior to this phase, Israeli troops had conducted brief nightly ground incursions into Gaza before returning to Israel.
Throughout the past three weeks, Palestinian militants have launched thousands of rockets into Israel. The death toll in Gaza has continued to rise, with the latest count exceeding 7,700 people since the war’s initiation. A significant number of casualties have been women and minors, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
Communication disruptions have had a dire impact on the health network in Gaza. Residents are unable to call for ambulances, forcing emergency teams to respond to the sounds of artillery barrages and airstrikes. An estimated 1,700 people remain trapped beneath the rubble, a situation compounded by the inability to communicate distress calls.
With funeral rites becoming increasingly scarce, Palestinians in Gaza are being denied a traditional means of mourning and closure. Overcrowded cemeteries have compelled families to exhume long-buried bodies and deepen existing graves.
Over 1.4 million people in Gaza have fled their homes, with nearly half seeking refuge in U.N. schools and shelters due to repeated warnings by the Israeli military. Many have not evacuated to the south because Israel has also targeted so-called safe zones, where conditions have become increasingly dire. Food and water supplies are running out, and electricity has been disrupted since the start of the war.
Humanitarian organizations have stressed that the aid allowed into Gaza from Egypt in the past week is far from sufficient. Gaza hospitals are struggling to obtain fuel for emergency generators that power life-saving equipment.
The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has lost contact with most of its staff, making coordination of aid efforts extremely challenging.
The intensified air and ground campaign has also raised concerns about hostages being taken into Gaza. On Saturday, hundreds of relatives in Tel Aviv demanded that the government prioritize the return of their loved ones over military objectives.
Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yehiyeh Sinwar, expressed willingness to release all hostages immediately if Israel releases all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, an offer that was dismissed by Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, as “psychological terror.”
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi stated that his government is working to de-escalate the conflict through talks with the warring parties regarding prisoners and hostages. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed surprise at the escalation of the conflict and its devastating effects on Gaza.
As impatience grows among many, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed hundreds of thousands at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul, announcing preparations to declare Israel a “war criminal” for its actions in Gaza. This has prompted Israel’s foreign minister to order the return of Israel’s diplomatic mission from Turkey for a reassessment of diplomatic ties.
The overall death toll in Gaza and Israel surpasses the combined toll of all four previous Israel-Hamas conflicts, estimated at around 4,000 lives. The conflict has also raised concerns about the potential for a broader regional war, with Arab nations, including U.S. allies, expressing alarm over the possibility of a ground invasion.
AP contributed to this story.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
