Israel bombards targets all throughout Gaza

As Hamas readied itself to declare the “fate” of the three Israelis who were kidnapped by the Palestinian organization three months prior and featured in a video clip over the weekend, Israeli forces launched bombardments of targets throughout Gaza on Monday.

Overnight, an Israeli bomb on a house in northern Gaza City resulted in the deaths of twelve Palestinians and several injuries, according to health sources. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks blasted Khan Younis, the main city in the south, causing plumes of smoke to rise over it.

Israeli tank barrages were also reported close to the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza, as well as intense fighting between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Press Agency SAFA, which is connected with Hamas.

Later on Monday, seven people were killed and additional individuals were injured in an Israeli missile strike that occurred close to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, according to Palestinian health officials there.

Local journalist Doaa El-Baz played video of what used to be her street in the Al-Nusseirat refugee camp.

“This entire neighborhood has been devastated. Standing in front of piles of debris, she declared, “Not a single house has been spared.” “They killed all our dreams here.”

The Israeli military claimed in a statement that it had raided a Hamas command center in Khan Younis and destroyed two arms caches in addition to killing two Palestinian fighters in an airstrike on their vehicle while it was transferring weapons.

In a related incident, police and medical officials reported that two Palestinians on Monday killed a woman and injured twelve others in a series of coordinated car crashes in the Israeli town of Raanana in the center. At least one of the vehicles used in the attacks was stolen, and the two suspects were from the same family in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Later, Hamas connected the events to “crimes” committed by Israel.

“The operation is a reaction to crimes carried out by Israel, the occupation.” According to Sami Abu Zuhri, the leader of Hamas’ political branch in exile, “it is further evidence that the conflict with the occupation is expanding.” Zuhri told Reuters.

In a video released on Sunday, Hamas showed the three Israelis it is holding captive in Gaza and called on the Israeli government to end its air and ground campaign and arrange for their release.

The caption for the 37-second undated film featuring 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 53-year-old Yossi Sharabi, and 38-year-old Itai Svirsky read, “Tomorrow (Monday) we will inform you of their fate.”

To further intensify the psychological pressure, Hamas published a video clip on Monday that showed the three prisoners’ faces along with the caption, “What do you think?” The video then presents three possible outcomes: either all three are killed, “some are killed, some are injured,” or none of them are. The video finishes with the message: “Tonight we will inform you of their fate.”

The three are among the roughly 240 individuals that Hamas militants kidnapped on October 7 during an unexpected cross-border raid into southern Israel.

A brief ceasefire in November saw the release of about half of the hostages; however, Israel claims that 132 are still detained in Gaza and that 25 have perished while in captivity.

Following the attack on October 7, which Israel claims claimed more than 1,200 lives, Israeli troops launched an aerial and ground offensive that, in the 100 days that have passed, has mostly destroyed Gaza and killed almost 24,100 Palestinians while injuring almost 61,000 more, according to health officials.

According to health officials, 132 people have died in the last 24 hours. This suggests to Palestinians that Israel’s offensive has not lessened in intensity, even if the country has announced a transition to a new, more focused phase.

Israel’s military has indicated it will now begin months of more focused operations against the leaders and positions of Hamas in the south after an initial all-out onslaught centred on removing the densely built-up northern portion of the Strip.

Due to ongoing shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, about two million displaced persons are taking up temporary housing in tents and other structures in southern Gaza as a result of the war. They are more vulnerable to malnourishment and illness.

On Monday, UN organizations urged again for a humanitarian truce in Gaza.

“We need unimpeded, safe access to deliver aid and a humanitarian ceasefire to prevent further death and suffering,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, president of the World Health Organization (WHO), adding that hunger would further injure the ill and make “an already terrible situation catastrophic”.

Social media users shared a video footage of throngs of people sprinting alongside UN trucks on a Gaza City beach in the hopes of receiving aid. Then, bags of flour were seen being carried away by others. Although the date of filming was not confirmed, Reuters was able to confirm the location depicted in the video.

Hundreds of Gazans rush into the aid trucks upon their arrival on the coastal area. pic.twitter.com/TEjZ2AeeG5

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 14, 2024

A broader battle in the Middle East is becoming more and more feared.

The Houthi forces, who rule a large portion of Yemen, have increased their attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they claim are connected to Israel or headed toward Israeli ports, expressing their support with the people of Gaza. Following these attacks, the US and the UK launched airstrikes against Houthi sites last week, which caused the militia supported by Iran to threaten a “strong” retaliation.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the group’s senior negotiator, told Reuters on Monday that Houthi strikes on ships would not stop until Israel stops its offensive in Gaza and permits humanitarian aid to enter the Strip without restriction.

The port side of a ship was struck by a missile fired from above, according to a report received by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency on Monday. The incident occurred southeast of the port of Aden in Yemen. Ships were warned to navigate the region carefully.