Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets across the border, with no clear signs of an imminent ceasefire despite international calls to end the fighting that has lasted over a week. Israeli leaders stated they are proceeding with the assault on Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but an Israeli military spokesman acknowledged that with both groups in Gaza possessing an estimated twelve thousand rockets and mortars, "they still have enough rockets to launch."
Police reported that two Thai workers were killed and seven others were injured in a rocket strike on an Israeli farm located directly across from the Gaza border. Hamas, which governs the area, and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The Israeli military stated that approximately 50 rockets were launched from Gaza on Tuesday night, with sirens sounding in the coastal city of Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv, and in areas closer to the Gaza border. There were no reports of material damage or casualties.
Medical officials in Gaza reported that 217 Palestinians have been killed, including 63 children, and more than 1,400 have been injured since the fighting began on May 10. Israeli authorities reported 12 fatalities in Israel, including two children. The Israeli military said 52 aircraft struck Hamas tunnels in southern Gaza during a 25-minute operation on Tuesday night, hitting 40 targets in the process.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that about 450 buildings in Gaza, including six hospitals and nine primary health care centers, have been destroyed or significantly damaged since the conflict began. Approximately 48,000 out of 52,000 displaced individuals have sought refuge in 58 schools run by the UN.
Israel indicated that over 3,450 rockets have been fired at it from Gaza, with some intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, while others did not cross the border. It reported killing around 160 militants. Hamas began launching rockets about nine days ago in response to what it described as violations of Palestinian rights by Israel in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
This is the most intense conflict between Israel and Hamas in years, and it differs from previous Gaza conflicts in that it has exacerbated violence in Israeli cities between Arabs and Jews.
### Diplomacy
France called on Tuesday for a Security Council resolution regarding the violence between Israel and the Palestinian militants, while diplomats stated that the United States informed the council that "a general statement at this time" would not help ease the crisis. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday, "Our goal is to reach an end to this conflict. We will assess the right approach day by day. Our approach at this time remains quiet and intensive discussions behind the scenes."
Egyptian and UN mediators have also intensified diplomatic efforts, with the UN General Assembly scheduled to meet to discuss the violence on Thursday. Germany called for a ceasefire and offered additional aid to support the Palestinians ahead of emergency EU talks.
Clashes erupted in the occupied West Bank as well, with the Israeli military reporting that its forces shot and killed a Palestinian who attempted to attack them with a rifle and a homemade explosive device. Health officials reported that another Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank. The military stated its soldiers were fired upon, resulting in injuries to two of them, prompting their return of fire.
Tensions have increased in the West Bank due to the Gaza bombing, clashes during Ramadan between Israeli police and worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a lawsuit filed by Israeli settlers seeking to evict Palestinian residents from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed.
Israeli television, citing unnamed Palestinian sources, reported that Egypt proposed through "secret channels" a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza on Thursday morning. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's political bureau based in Qatar, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that reports of the group agreeing to a ceasefire on Thursday were inaccurate. He stated, "No agreement or specific timings for a ceasefire have been reached. We affirm that the efforts and communications from mediators are serious and ongoing, and our people's demands are clear and known."
Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted on Tuesday that Israeli attacks will continue "no matter how long it takes to restore calm" for all Israeli citizens. He added that Israel's strikes "set Hamas back many years," which some Israeli news commentators interpreted as a potential prelude to a ceasefire announcement in the coming days when he could declare victory.
However, Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, noted that the situation is more complex, citing civil unrest in Israel, rising Palestinian protests in the occupied West Bank, and rockets being fired from Lebanon.
