Israel’s military has increasingly intensified its operations into Gaza. They’ve declared an entire city a combat zone and begun aerial bombardments that have killed more than 60 civilians, by their own account. As the war continues to intensify, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the army should go in there and “wipe out” what’s left of Palestinian Gaza. The ongoing humanitarian disaster in the region has drawn widespread international outrage. Britain, France, and Canada threatened to take specific actions against Israel due to its military build-up.
On Sunday evening, Netanyahu announced an even more limited easing of this eleven-week-long siege on Gaza. This legislative step seeks to avoid a pending “starvation crisis.” This decision comes amidst increasing alarm that humanitarian conditions are deteriorating. Just days after the attack by Hamas, the United Nations said only nine trucks of aid had been allowed into Gaza. Unfortunately, this is a dramatic mismatch compared to the needs of the millions of people affected by the ongoing conflict.
These deadly airstrikes are very much targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals in the beleaguered region. This violent attack brings the total casualties from the war to 53,486 casualties, with the bulk being innocent civilians. This grim statistic highlights the dire humanitarian situation as armed groups in Gaza engage in looting of warehouses, exacerbating hunger issues.
Netanyahu had previously cautioned that increasing desperation in Gaza would push Israel over a dangerous “red line.” If that line is crossed, we risk losing all ability to influence the developing scenario. He stated clearly that Israel’s goal is to retake all of Gaza.
“Now we conquer, cleanse and stay – until [Hamas] is destroyed,” – Bezalel Smotrich.
With hunger deepening in Gaza, armed militant groups have stormed UN warehouses. This terribly dangerous escalation adds to the bleak humanitarian catastrophe that was already overwhelming. Israeli officials have proposed replacing existing networks across Gaza with central distribution compounds, secured by the Israeli military and managed by armed contractors. Humanitarian organizations with decades of experience in high-threat conflict areas, like the International Rescue Committee, confidently declare their aid is not being diverted.
This escalation began with Hamas launching well-planned, cross-border attacks that massacred nearly 1,200 people in Israel. They kidnapped 250 hostages – though most were murdered in the process, almost two-thirds are presumed dead, 58 hostages are still unaccounted for. In response to these events, Netanyahu declared:
“As part of the war, the IDF is moving the population out of combat zones … The population will reach the south of the strip, and from there, with God’s help, move to third countries under [President Trump’s plan].”
The horrors of the situation have prompted international leaders to sound off with their condemnation of Israel’s military actions. Leaders from Britain, France and Canada finally banded together to criticize Israel’s months-long military campaign. They described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as “intolerable,” pointing out the disproportionate effect of the conflict.
“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response,” – Britain, France and Canada.
As those tensions seem to heighten, Netanyahu has doubled down on Israel’s determination to achieve its aims in Gaza. He stated:
“The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip.”
The world is watching as Israel goes through this horrendous situation that is characterized by violence and humanitarian crisis. As these alarming events unfold, the world is left to wonder what will become of Gaza and its civilians.