According to CNN, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) military operations in January may switch to a lower-intensity approach that focuses on particular Hamas commanders and operatives. The site claims that the operation’s strategies would be comparable to those used by the US to take out terrorist commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Washington is extremely concerned about more Israeli operations in southern Gaza at the same time. According to CNN on Tuesday, which cited a number of unidentified senior US officials, the US has warned West Jerusalem in “hard” and “direct” talks that the IDF cannot repeat the same damaging tactics it used in the north of the Palestinian enclave and must take additional steps to limit civilian losses.
Israel accused Hamas on Friday of firing into Israeli territory while under operational halt, which led the Israel Defence Forces to reopen hostilities with the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.
The truce allowed humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, ceased hostilities, and allowed Hamas to liberate its captives in return for Israel liberating Palestinian inmates.
In the midst of renewed fighting, the IDF gave the Palestinians orders to leave Khan Younis, the biggest city in southern Gaza, and move towards the Rafah neighbourhood, which borders Egypt.
Thomas White, the director of UNRWA, stated that “even in Rafah, where people are being forced to flee, the sound of airstrikes punctuates the day.” He also stated that they have “nothing to tell” those who ask for guidance on where to find safety.
Rafah “will not cope” with a doubling of the displaced people, according to White, who also pointed out that there are “thousands without shelter living in the open” and that there is insufficient infrastructure for water and sanitation.
The Israeli army has been following Hamas in northern Gaza and is currently doing so in southern Gaza, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari on Monday. He then on, “We will use all available force to take out Hamas terrorists and their infrastructure while causing the least amount of damage to civilians.”
The communications ministry of the Gaza administration reports that 16,000 people have died. Since the battle erupted on October 7, there have been around 1,200 Israeli casualties. According to recent media accounts, 82 IDF soldiers have died since the combat operation began.
West Jerusalem said that during the week-long truce, Hamas freed 108 of its detainees, leaving 137 still within the enclave.
