Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday night that the military has initiated the “second stage” of their operations against Hamas. This entails the deployment of ground forces into Gaza and an expansion of attacks from land, air, and sea. He framed this as a critical moment in the nation’s history, characterizing the conflict as a fight for Israel’s survival. Netanyahu also warned that the assault would escalate in preparation for a broader ground invasion into the region. In his words, “There are moments in which a nation faces two possibilities: to do or die. We now face that test, and I have no doubt how it will end: We will be the victors. We will do, and we will be the victors.”
The bombardment — described by Gaza residents as the most intense of the war — knocked out most communications in the territory late Friday and largely cut off the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people from the world. Communications were restored to many people in Gaza early Sunday, according to the telecoms company, Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org and confirmation on the ground.
The ongoing attacks have been highlighted by the Israeli military, who released low-quality images depicting tank columns moving slowly in open areas of Gaza, with many of them near the border. Additionally, the military reported that warplanes have bombed numerous Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers. Targeting these underground sites is a key component of Israel’s strategy to weaken the ruling group in Gaza, especially after their violent incursion into Israel three weeks ago.
These escalations have put domestic pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of dozens of hostages who were taken during the October 7th attack by Hamas. During this attack, militants from Gaza infiltrated nearby Israeli towns, resulting in the killing of civilians and soldiers. This unprecedented attack, which occurred during a major Jewish holiday, has triggered a conflict between Israel and Hamas that has the potential to escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister
Desperate family members of the hostages met with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Saturday and expressed their support for an exchange involving Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, an idea that was suggested by the top Hamas leader in Gaza.