Israeli Forces Enter Gaza as Palestinians Assess Damage Following Fierce Overnight Attacks

Israeli ground forces have entered Gaza overnight, responding to what Palestinians are calling the most severe round of airstrikes since Israel retaliated against the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. According to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, Israeli forces have expanded the ground operation in the Gaza Strip and are involving infantry, armor, engineer units, and artillery with intense firepower. Hagari made these remarks during a press briefing in Tel Aviv on Saturday morning.

He added that the forces are currently engaged in combat but did not provide any additional information.

Hagaris' statement indicates that the military operation has experienced substantial growth following two previously mentioned "targeted raids." These raids occurred on Wednesday night and Thursday night, during which ground forces withdrew after a short period of time.

No major ground offensive has commenced with the objective of capturing and retaining large portions of territory. On Saturday, the IDF announced that it had targeted 150 underground sites in the northern part of the enclave, destroying alleged terror tunnels and underground combat areas while eliminating multiple Hamas members.

Hagari mentioned that residents of Gaza who relocated south of Wadi Gaza, a central waterway in the Strip, are now in a designated "safe zone" where they will be provided with increased supplies of food, water, and medicine today. However, he did not provide specific details.

The enclave of Gaza, with a population of over 2 million, occupies a mere 140 square miles and ranks among the most densely-populated regions on the planet. Over the past few weeks, the people residing in this area have been enduring Israeli airstrikes along with an escalating humanitarian crisis, marked by severe shortages of water, food, and fuel.

Since October 7, Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 7,300 individuals and left 18,500 more injured, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. These figures were obtained from sources within the Hamas-controlled enclave.

According to the civil defence service in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory, hundreds of buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed by Israeli air strikes overnight.

Mourning in Gaza

After a night of relentless Israeli airstrikes, Palestinians in Gaza expressed their grief for their departed family members. A significant number of individuals congregated at the Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al Balah, located in central Gaza, to mourn the loss.

CNN's video footage reveals a haunting scene at the hospital yard, where numerous bodies, including those of children, lie adorned with white shrouds or bundled in thick blankets. According to Dr. Khalil Al-Dikran, the hospital received an influx of 22 bodies and hundreds of injured individuals overnight. He further shared that grieving citizens had transported the deceased and wounded using an array of vehicles, ranging from bikes and cars to donkey carts.

Hospitals have lost communication with one another following the disruption of communication networks throughout the Gaza Strip. He expressed that individuals are eagerly seeking any information regarding the well-being of their loved ones and families.

Al-Dikran noted that the airstrikes have recommenced in the central and northern parts of Gaza after a brief halt, and artillery fire has persisted throughout the night.

Video Ad Feedback

Doctor can't contact colleagues in Gaza blackout

02:43

- Source:

CNN

Aid agencies lose contact

Communications in the enclave have been severely disrupted, leaving aid agencies out of touch with their staff on the ground.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern about the distressing reports of intense bombardment in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, on Saturday morning. He emphasized that the organization is currently unable to communicate with its staff and access health facilities, raising concerns for their safety. Tedros stated that evacuating patients or seeking safe shelter is not feasible in such conditions, and the blackout is hindering the ability of ambulances to reach the injured.

Reiterating the urgent plea from the WHO, he calls upon those with the authority to advocate for an immediate ceasefire to take immediate action. Additionally, a number of United Nations organizations have expressed concerns over the loss of communication with their personnel based in Gaza.

Lynn Hastings, the UN's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Palestine, posted on X to express that "Gaza has lost all communication with the outside world amidst reports of escalated bombardment."

In a statement on X, Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, shared her deep concern about the well-being of her team in Gaza after losing all contact with them.

Russell emphasized the crucial need for safeguarding all humanitarian workers, as well as the children and families they assist.

Despite significant disruptions in communication networks, Jawwal, the local telecoms provider, has reported sporadic connectivity for individuals using Israeli or international SIM cards.