The Israeli army severed northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory and pounded it with airstrikes Monday, preparing for expected ground battles with Hamas militants in Gaza’s largest city and an even bloodier phase of the month-old war.
Already, the Palestinian death toll surpassed 10,000, the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Monday. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. About 1,400 people in Israel have died, mostly civilians killed in the Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas that started the war. The Israeli army
The war has quickly become the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence since Israel’s establishment 75 years ago, with no end in sight as Israel vows to remove Hamas from power and crush its military capabilities.
The number of casualties is expected to increase significantly as the conflict transitions into intense urban warfare. According to reports from Israeli media, Israeli forces are preparing to enter Gaza City, and in response, Palestinian militants, who have had years to prepare, are anticipated to engage in close-quarters combat, with street-by-street fighting and the use of an extensive network of tunnels for ambushes.
It is estimated that several hundred thousand people still find themselves in the north, directly in the path of the ongoing assault. The military has established a one-way corridor for residents of Gaza City and its surrounding areas to escape to the south. However, many individuals are hesitant to utilize this route, as a portion of it is controlled by Israeli troops, causing fear and uncertainty among those considering fleeing.