Israel has announced the encirclement of Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, which is central to its campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas. Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to short-term ceasefires in the fighting to allow for the entry of aid into the area. As the conflict approaches its fourth week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set for his second visit to Israel in a month, where he will meet with Netanyahu amid ongoing confrontations between the Israeli army and Hamas militants launching hit-and-run attacks from tunnels.
Netanyahu stated in a declaration following the military's announcement of encircling the main city in the coastal enclave: "We are at the height of the battle. We have achieved remarkable successes and have surpassed the outskirts of Gaza City. We are advancing." Upon departing Washington for the Middle East, Blinken noted that he would discuss concrete steps to minimize civilian harm in Gaza. Concurrently, the White House stated that any pause in fighting should be limited in time and space, reiterating that it would not prevent Israel from defending itself.
Calls for a ceasefire or a halt to hostilities have increased from world leaders amid rising civilian casualties among Palestinians, alongside severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel. Israel has rejected these calls, stating that its focus is on targeting Hamas fighters, who it accuses of deliberately hiding among civilians and in residential buildings. The White House has also dismissed calls for a ceasefire.
According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 9,061 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched its attack on the territory, which has a population of 2.3 million, in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel. A group of United Nations experts warned that Palestinians in Gaza are "at serious risk of genocide." The team, consisting of UN rapporteurs, issued a statement calling for Israel and its allies to agree to an immediate ceasefire, stating: "Time has run out." Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva described the statement as "regrettable and deeply concerning," while blaming Hamas for the civilian deaths. UN Secretary-General António Guterres' spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, noted that determining whether genocide has occurred can only be done by a relevant judicial body affiliated with the UN.
Israel claims that Hamas killed 1,400 individuals, mostly civilians, and took more than 240 hostages during its attack on October 7. The White House announced on Thursday that it is considering the idea of ceasefire periods in the conflict. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: "What we are trying to do is explore the idea of ceasefires as much as necessary to continue facilitating aid and ensure the safe evacuation of people, including hostages."
Blinken is also scheduled to meet with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman tomorrow. Safadi stated that Israel must end the war on Gaza, accusing it of committing war crimes through the bombing of civilians and imposing a blockade. The United Arab Emirates warned today that tensions in the Middle East are nearing a "boiling point," stating that it is working "tirelessly" to reach a humanitarian ceasefire. Emirates State Minister for Foreign Affairs Noura Al Kaabi remarked at a conference in the capital, Abu Dhabi: "The risk of further regional escalation and the exploitation of extremist groups to advance ideologies that keep us trapped in cycles of violence is real."
**Hamas Fighters Emerge from Tunnels Amid Intense Bombardments**
Amidst heavy explosions in Gaza, Israeli military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari informed reporters that Israeli forces "have completed the encirclement of Gaza City, the main hub of the terrorist organization Hamas." Brigadier General Edo Mizrahi, commander of the Israeli Army's engineering corps, explained that the troops are facing mines and booby traps, adding, "Hamas has learned its lesson and has prepared well."
Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas' military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed in a televised address that the number of Israeli dead in Gaza is much higher than the military reports. He stated: "Expect to see more of your soldiers returning in black bags." According to residents and videos released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, fighters from both groups emerged from tunnels to fire on Israeli tanks before disappearing back into the network of tunnels.
Two anonymous U.S. officials reported that the United States is deploying drones over Gaza to gather information that may aid in locating hostages. One indicated that these drones have been collecting data for over a week.
**More Foreign Nationals on the Brink of Evacuation**
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to open for the third day today to facilitate limited evacuations under a Qatar-mediated agreement designed to allow some foreign passport holders and their families, as well as some seriously injured Gazans, to leave the territory. According to border officials, more than 700 foreign nationals have crossed into Egypt through Rafah over the past two days, with dozens of badly injured Palestinians scheduled to cross as well. Israel has requested foreign nations to send ships equipped with hospitals for them.
Over one-third of Gaza's 35 hospitals are non-operational, with many having turned into refugee camps.
