Israeli tanks advanced further into the western area of Rafah, intensifying one of the worst bombardments from air, ground, and sea, which forced many families to flee their homes and tents under the cover of darkness. Residents reported on Thursday that Israeli forces moved toward the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, a zone designated as a humanitarian area in all announcements and maps issued by the Israeli army since the beginning of their offensive in May. The Israeli military, however, denied launching any strikes inside the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
Israel stated that its assault aims to eliminate Hamas’ last intact combat units in Rafah, a city that had sheltered more than a million people before the latest offensive began. The majority of these people have now moved north toward Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The Israeli military mentioned it was continuing “intelligence-based, targeted operations” in Rafah, reporting that forces had located weapons and killed Palestinian gunmen in close-range combat. Over the past day, the military claimed to have struck 45 targets across the Gaza Strip from the air, including military structures, militant cells, rocket launchers, and tunnel shafts.
Israel has ruled out peace until Hamas is eradicated, leading to widespread destruction across Gaza. Despite significant damage, Hamas has shown resilience, with militants resurfacing to fight in areas where Israeli forces had previously declared victory. The ongoing conflict underscores the persistent challenge Israel faces in dismantling Hamas.
In the midst of the violence, there have been efforts to secure a ceasefire. Hamas welcomed a new U.S. ceasefire proposal but made some amendments, insisting that any agreement must secure an end to the war, a demand Israel continues to reject. Israel characterized Hamas’s response to the new U.S. peace proposal as a total rejection. However, mediators from Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, are still working to secure an agreement.
Since a brief week-long truce in November, repeated attempts to arrange a ceasefire have failed. Hamas insists on a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The conflict, which began when Hamas militants stormed from Israeli-blockaded Gaza into southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, has only escalated since then. Israel’s subsequent invasion and bombardment of Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 37,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Thousands more are feared buried under rubble, with most of the 2.3 million population displaced.
The current humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. The relentless bombardment has left much of the territory in ruins, and the ongoing conflict has led to a severe displacement crisis. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful, and the prospects for peace remain bleak as long as both sides maintain their current positions.
The international community continues to watch closely, with mediators and human rights organizations urging both sides to reach a peaceful resolution. The conflict has highlighted the deep-seated issues and animosities that drive the violence, and finding a lasting solution will require significant compromises from both sides. For now, the people of Gaza continue to suffer the consequences of a war that shows no signs of ending.
As the situation evolves, the need for a diplomatic resolution becomes more urgent. The international community must increase pressure on both parties to negotiate in good faith and work towards a sustainable peace agreement. Only through dialogue and compromise can the cycle of violence be broken and a lasting peace achieved for the people of Gaza and Israel.
