Palestinian militants carry out deadly ambush on Israeli soldiers in Gaza
Palestinian militants carried out a deadly ambush on Israeli soldiers in Gaza, signaling the resistance posed by Hamas despite months of bombardment. The fighting shows that Israel is far from its aim of destroying Hamas, even after a destructive onslaught. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has caused international outrage, with calls for Israel to spare civilians. Israeli troops continue to engage in heavy combat with Palestinian fighters in and around Gaza City.
Resistance in Gaza: Palestinians carry out deadly ambush on Israeli soldiers
Palestinian militants carried out one of the deadliest single attacks on Israeli soldiers since the ground invasion of Gaza began. At least nine Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in a dense urban neighborhood. This attack demonstrates the strong resistance that Hamas still poses, despite the devastating bombardment it has endured for over two months.
Israel had claimed to have broken Hamas’ command structure in northern Gaza and killed thousands of militants. However, this ambush shows that Hamas is still a formidable force and Israel is far from achieving its aim of destroying the group. The air and ground assault on Gaza has resulted in the death of over 18,600 Palestinians and the displacement of nearly 1.9 million people.
The United States has called on Israel to take greater measures to spare civilians, but it has also blocked international calls for a cease-fire and rushed military aid to its ally. Israeli troops are still engaged in heavy combat with Palestinian fighters, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sparked international outrage.
Intense fighting in Gaza City and surrounding areas
Israeli troops are locked in heavy combat with Palestinian fighters in and around Gaza City, more than two months after invading Gaza’s north. Clashes have been raging overnight and into Wednesday in multiple areas, with particularly intense fighting in the neighborhood of Shijaiyah. The situation in Shijaiyah is dire, with residents unable to find a safe place to go.
The deadly ambush on Israeli soldiers took place in Shijaiyah, where troops searching a cluster of buildings lost communication with four soldiers who came under fire. When other soldiers launched a rescue operation, they were ambushed with heavy gunfire and explosives. The ambush resulted in the deaths of nine people, including senior officers.
The fighting in Gaza City and the surrounding areas continues to escalate, with no end in sight. The military offensive has taken a heavy toll on both sides, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening.
International support for Hamas grows as anger over toll of war increases
The toll of the war and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led to a surge in support among Palestinians for Hamas. A recent poll showed that 44% of respondents in the occupied West Bank and 42% of respondents in Gaza support Hamas. Support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is dwindling, with nearly 90% of respondents saying he must resign.
The surge in support for Hamas and the rejection of Abbas's leadership pose challenges for the American administration's postwar vision for Gaza. The United States wants Abbas's Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and revive the peace process. However, Israel's goal of ending Hamas' military and governing capabilities is becoming increasingly difficult.
As the war continues and the toll on civilians in Gaza mounts, Israel risks losing international support. President Joe Biden has already expressed his concern over Israel's indiscriminate bombing, and with no signs of a hostage release and a worsening humanitarian crisis, Israel could find itself in a worse position after the war.
