More than a year into the conflict that has reverberated throughout the Middle East, Israeli troops remain engaged in intense combat with Hamas in the Gaza Strip’s most devastated regions. In northern Gaza, Hamas fighters conduct sporadic attacks from bombed structures, while residents report that Israeli forces have forcibly evicted people from shelters at gunpoint. First responders are struggling to operate amid relentless Israeli airstrikes.
Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, the group has suffered significant losses, exemplified by the recent death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar. Despite this, hostilities are ongoing with no near-future ceasefire, and Hamas retains a considerable grip on power in Gaza.
Israeli military actions have intensified, with mass evacuations ordered and aid severely restricted, drawing international condemnation. This week’s airstrikes in Beit Lahiya resulted in at least 88 Palestinian casualties, including women and children.
While nearly a million people fled northern Gaza initially, many are now trapped amid incessant violence, as the Israeli military continues its operations without a clear post-war strategy. There are fears that the ongoing conflict could lead to further displacement and humanitarian disaster, with rights groups warning this may violate international law.