Renewed violence erupts as Israel strikes on Gaza

More than 25,000 individuals were ordered to be displaced between Sunday and Wednesday last week.

Several high-rise buildings were struck in an attack by the Israeli military on Sunday, after Israel ordered an evacuation of the entire city.

On Thursday, the 18th, a meeting will be held, led by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting was called to discuss plans to avoid injuring the hostages who are currently being held in Gaza.

The Israeli military plans to perform a ground operation; this meeting is to preserve the safety of the 20 hostages still alive in the enclave. This ground operation is said to take place within the next couple of days.

United Nations partners are concerned that several temporary learning facilities in Gaza are at risk of closure, resulting from the displacement orders. 10 United Nations buildings located in Gaza have been struck in the past four days. These buildings were schools and clinics that were used to assist those affected by the attacks.

Several missiles destroyed a building located on the Islamic University campus in Gaza. Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, posted on X as the building was being destroyed, saying, “The ‘Islamic’ University in Gaza is going up in smoke. Eliminating the sources of incitement and terrorism.”

Hospital numbers show that at least 130 individuals have been killed in attacks by Israel since Saturday.

Many Palestinians have chosen to remain in Gaza for differing reasons. One man stated that his reason for staying was to limit giving the Israeli military the satisfaction of leaving his home. Others don’t have enough money to escape Gaza, moving from different locations around the city to avoid the attacks.

NBC News has collected statements from many individuals in Gaza, one of which being Wad’i Nabil Mohamed Salah Masoud, a young boy who woke up trapped under the rubble of his own home. Once he was finally rescued, he stood in the ruins, waiting for the rest of his family to be recovered. “I am asking the world to end the war because we are children,” he said to one NBC reporter.

Donald Trump has invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for a visit on Monday, two weeks from now.

An NBC News article explains that international leaders from around the world are calling the offensive a “violation of international law” and that the actions that Israel is taking are genocide. Samira Issa, a woman who Israel has displaced, said in an interview with NBC News, “I am begging the entire world, and all the Arab nations, all kings and presidents, to stand by us and salvage us. We are tired.”

While many condemn the actions taken by Israel, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF Chief of Staff, withholds a positive stance on Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Zamir believes that the Israeli military keeps within the guidelines of international law and prevents harm to civilians to the best of their abilities.

The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs coordination office reports that more than 70,000 individuals have fled south of Gaza, and at least 15,000 have made the journey in the past month.

On Tuesday, eleven-year-old Marah Haddad was rescued from the rubble after being trapped underneath for almost 10 hours. Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, told NBC News, “Medical staff are unable to provide the necessary services due to a lack of medical resources and supplies.”

Many world leaders are condemning Israel’s ground assault. Germany called for a ceasefire, and Britain’s foreign secretary believes the assault to be “utterly reckless and appalling,” according to NBC News.

Other countries, such as Spain, have threatened to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest, a singing competition that several countries participate in every year, if Israel is present and allowed to compete. Irish and Dutch broadcasters have also released statements about resigning from the competition if Israel is permitted to compete.

An Israeli military official told NBC News that the “main phase” of Israel’s ground attack had begun as of Tuesday.

Thousands of Hamas fighters in Gaza have been killed, forcing them to scatter. The army has been forced to bunker down to survive, while still orchestrating ambushes on the Israeli military. Israel’s full-scale ground offensive is geared toward eliminating the Hamas army.

In the past twenty-four hours, at least 33 individuals have been reported dead and 146 others were injured. Three adults and one child starved to death in this time as well. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, this bring the total death toll since the beginning of the war to 65,174.