Israel has formed an emergency unity government and is conducting military operations in Gaza to combat Hamas. The government includes opposition leader Benny Gantz and will focus solely on the conflict with Hamas. Hamas claims to still be fighting in Israel despite the Israeli military’s deployment around Gaza. Additionally, there are reports of electricity outages in the Palestinian enclave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have agreed to form a war cabinet to address the conflict with Hamas. This decision was made in response to the recent attack by Hamas gunmen on populated areas in southern Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the attack and issued a warning to its Iranian supporters.

The death toll in Israel has risen to 1,200, with over 2,700 wounded, as a result of the militants’ breach of the border fence and subsequent rampage in Gaza. The Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, claims to still be fighting inside Israel. Israel has deployed tanks and armored vehicles north of Gaza in response to these clashes.

Retaliatory strikes on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 1,055 people and the injury of 5,184. Around 535 residential buildings have been destroyed, leaving approximately 250,000 people homeless. Many of the displaced individuals are seeking shelter in designated UN shelters or are left to navigate the shattered streets.

Israel has vowed to swiftly punish those responsible for the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in its history. The attack occurred at a music festival and a kibbutz community, leaving numerous casualties. The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes on over 200 targets in a neighborhood of Gaza City that was allegedly used by Hamas to launch attacks.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that the offensive began with airstrikes and ground operations will follow. Israel has imposed a total siege on Gaza to prevent the delivery of food and fuel to the enclave.The only power station in Gaza stopped working, causing a power outage for the 2.3 million people living in the area, many of whom are poor and rely on aid. This led to a search for bodies in the rubble, with Palestinian rescue workers overwhelmed and others joining in the effort. Flashlights were used to navigate through a building hit by missiles, with one man sharing his experience of being trapped when his house collapsed on top of him. The Israeli military reported killing at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza, and the Chief of the General Staff held a meeting with commanders to discuss their next steps. The military emphasized their precision and power in targeting Hamas leaders.

In Gaza, scores of Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage, some of whom were paraded through the streets. Both sides acknowledged the deaths and injuries of many women and children, leading to multiple funerals. Israel announced the shift to remote learning in schools and the issuance of more firearms to licensed citizens, anticipating possible friction between the majority Jewish population and the Arab minority. There were calls for more protests in support of Gaza.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, there were reports of Palestinians being shot and wounded by Israeli settlers, according to the acting Palestinian governor of Nablus. However, RushHourDaily could not verify the report, and there was no immediate comment from Israel. Additionally, an Israeli hospital in Ashkelon, north of Gaza, was hit by a rocket, but no casualties were reported.

The crisis further escalated as Israeli shelling targeted southern Lebanese towns in response to a rocket attack by Hezbollah, a powerful armed group backed by Iran. This marked the fourth consecutive day of violence in the area.Israel responded to Syrian shells that landed on Israeli territory on Tuesday. The Israeli military is currently investigating the incident.

Israel is aware that a ground offensive carries risks, especially for the hostages held in the densely populated Gaza Strip, which is under the control of Hamas. Hamas has threatened to execute a captive for every home that is hit without warning.

According to Palestinian sources, one of the homes targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight resulted in the death of three relatives of Hamas military wing chief Mohammed Deif. Deif is the secretive mastermind behind the planned assault, which was in the works for two years.

In 2005, Israel withdrew settlers and troops from Gaza after 38 years of occupation. However, since Hamas seized power in 2007, an Israeli blockade has created intolerable conditions for Palestinians.

The United States has stated that it is in discussions with Israel and Egypt regarding safe passage for civilians from Gaza, as food supplies are running low. Hussein Al-Sheikh, an official in the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, has called for urgent intervention from the international community to prevent a major humanitarian catastrophe.

President Biden has condemned the Hamas attacks as an act of sheer evil and has pledged to provide military assistance to Israel, including replenishing its Iron Dome aerial defense system. He has also urged Israel to avoid causing civilian casualties and has increased the presence of US forces in the region.

While US officials do not have evidence of Iran orchestrating the attacks, they point to Iran’s long-term support for Hamas.

A wounded Palestinian from Gaza, Ala al-Kafarneh, has expressed his loss and frustration, stating that his family members were killed in an Israeli attack despite fleeing from previous attacks. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has reported extensive damage caused by Israeli strikes, including the destruction of residential units, health facilities, and schools.

The Palestinian UN envoy has accused Israel of war crimes and has written to the UN Security Council to address the situation.

Violence has also escalated in Arab East Jerusalem and the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of 21 Palestinians and injuries to 130 others in clashes with Israeli forces since Saturday.A senior correspondent with almost 25 years of experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including multiple wars and the signing of the first historic peace accord between the two sides, is reporting on the situation. The article was written by b and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington and Andrew Mills in Qatar. The writing was edited by Simon Lewis, Michael Georgy, and Philippa Fletcher, with additional editing by Howard Goller, Lincoln Feast, Michael Perry, Andrew Cawthorne, and Mark Heinrich. The article adheres to The Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.

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