Israel starts next stage of ‘long war’ as Gaza deaths top 8,000

Israel launched an intensified attack on Hamas-controlled Gaza on Sunday, escalating their air and ground campaign. The United Nations (UN) warned that civil order in the besieged Palestinian territory was on the brink of collapse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared the nation for a 'long and difficult war' ahead, while the Red Cross expressed shock at the 'intolerable' level of human suffering in Gaza. Despite international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and widespread outrage, Israel has amplified the war in response to Hamas's unprecedented attack three weeks ago.

On October 7, Hamas militants launched a deadly assault across the Gaza border, marking the deadliest attack in Israel's history. They killed 1,400 people, predominantly civilians, and kidnapped 230 others, according to Israeli officials. In retaliation, the Israeli military has intensified its air strikes in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas's control, reports that the relentless Israeli bombardment has resulted in at least 8,005 deaths, including 3,324 minors.

The Israeli army announced the commencement of 'stage two' of the war, which involved ground incursions since late Friday. However, they refrained from declaring it a full-scale invasion. On Sunday, the military reported that it had struck another 450 Hamas targets within the past 24 hours and was bolstering its ground forces in Gaza. In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu announced the second stage of the war, with clear objectives: to dismantle Hamas's military and leadership capabilities and to rescue the hostages. He pledged to 'eradicate' Hamas 'for the sake of our existence. ' The situation in Gaza is increasingly dire, with over half of its 2. 3 million residents displaced, according to the UN, and thousands of buildings destroyed.