Fighting in Gaza's south heated up over the weekend, with Israel claiming control of the region surrounding the former Hamas headquarters in Gaza City.
According to the New York Times, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told the media late Sunday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently control the area in Gaza City around Palestine Square, which houses municipal offices and serves as the H.Q. for Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's enclave leader.
Over the weekend, the IDF engaged in intense fighting in three regions of the Gaza Strip where the terrorist group still has bases. The three sites targeted by the IDF include Jabaliya and Shajaiye in Gaza's north, as well as KhanYounis in Gaza's south.
As tens of thousands of Palestinians fled the violence towards Gaza's border with Egypt, the UN warned of a humanitarian disaster.
The Rafah gate between Egypt and Gaza has become the most crucial route for humanitarian assistance and Palestinian refugees escaping the region.
Early in the conflict, Israel ordered the evacuation of the northern third of the territory, including Gaza City, but tens of thousands of residents stayed.
Meanwhile, as battle between the IDF and Hamas militants enters its third month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from various international leaders to demand a halt to military operations.
Israel has stated that it is willing to battle for months or more to defeat Hamas, which started the conflict by launching a surprise terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping approximately 240 people.
According to a major mediator, the idea of a cease-fire is likewise becoming less realistic.
Mr. Netanyahu stated that he has asked international leaders, notably German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, to continue to back military operations in Gaza until Hamas is defeated.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the situation as "catastrophic" in terms of health care after stating that just half of Gaza's 36 facilities are now operational.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza has stated that the war has killed over 17,700 Palestinians, however these statistics cannot be independently verified.
The United States blocked a United Nations resolution calling for a durable cease-fire on Friday. The U.N. According to a statement issued by Israel following Mr. Netanyahu's conversation to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, the resolution was supported by Russia, which faced harsh criticism from Israel over its attitude.
According to Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's national security adviser, the US has not set a specific timeline for Israel to achieve its goals.
“The evaluation that this can’t be measured in weeks is correct, and I’m not sure it can be measured in months,” Mr. Hanegbi said.
This was reiterated by the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN that, as far as the US is concerned, Israel takes the choices on the duration and conduct of the battle.
On Saturday, the Biden administration announced an emergency sale of tank ammunition to Israel valued more than $100 million.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has called an extraordinary meeting to vote on a draft resolution similar to the one vetoed by the United States. According to Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, the General Assembly will meet on Tuesday.
While the General Assembly does not have veto power, its resolutions, unlike those of the Security Council, are not legally obligatory. They are often recognized as a significant gauge of world sentiment.
