Gaza – Reports of intense bombardment over Gaza City emerged Thursday as Israeli forces launched an expanded campaign aimed at dismantling the remaining Hamas strongholds, following an official endorsement from the defense ministry, reports 24brussels.
“We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF (army) troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,”
stated the Israeli military in a recent announcement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the armed forces to expedite this operation. Authorities estimate that it will unfold over several months, with objectives including the defeat of Hamas, the release of hostages, and the mitigation of threats posed by militants.
How has Israel broadened its offence on Gaza City?
Leading up to the current offensive, Israel’s military had initiated the mobilization of reservists, initially announced in early September. The latest directive includes the deployment of approximately 60,000 reservists, raising concerns regarding the potential exacerbation of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories.
This escalation in Israel’s military strategy, aimed at annexing Gaza City, has drawn widespread international criticism alongside domestic dissent. The Gaza Civil Defence Agency’s spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, reported that recent air strikes and artillery fire have primarily targeted regions in the northwest and southeast of Gaza City.
On Thursday night, the Israeli military detailed the diverse operations conducted across the Gaza Strip in the past weeks, asserting that these actions had “created the conditions” necessary to increase pressure on Hamas and enable the next phases of their campaign.
As Israeli troops continued to tighten their encirclement of Gaza City, mediators awaited formal recognition of a ceasefire proposal that Hamas signaled agreement to earlier this week.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing for almost two years, inclusive of two brief ceasefires where Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
In a significant development, Hamas has officially accepted a proposed 60-day ceasefire agreement with Israel, which mandates the release of approximately half of the hostages currently held in Gaza. Under the terms, Hamas has committed to releasing 10 living hostages as well as the remains of 18 deceased captives, to occur in two phases during the ceasefire. In return, Israel is poised to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some long-term detainees and minors.
How many hostages are currently held by Hamas in Gaza?
Currently, estimates suggest that Hamas is holding around 50 hostages in Gaza. Most were captured during the October 7, 2023, assaults, with 49 individuals taken then and another prior to those events. Hostages comprise a mix of civilians and military personnel, with Israeli intelligence indicating that at least 27 of those taken may have been killed, while the status of the remaining individuals remains uncertain.
