GAZA/JERUSALEM- Israel's military has escalated its offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, while global powers, including the United States, are urging the continuous flow of aid to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli military reported striking over 400 militant targets in Gaza overnight, resulting in the deaths of numerous Hamas fighters, including three deputy battalion commanders.
The military also claimed to have targeted a tunnel used by Hamas for infiltration from the sea and command centers within mosques.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry in Ramallah reported more than 120 Palestinian casualties due to Israeli airstrikes on inhabited homes in various parts of Gaza.
Israel's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, stated that there are no intentions to reduce the intensity of the strikes, emphasizing the goal to fully dismantle Hamas. He also mentioned preparations for potential ground operations in southern Israel, bordering Gaza.
The Palestinian health ministry reported a total death toll of over 5,000 Palestinians over two weeks in response to Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people.
Hamas released two Israeli women among the more than 200 hostages taken during its October 7 assault, marking the third and fourth hostages to be freed.
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the release and emphasized the need to maintain a continuous flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
China, alongside Russia, expressed the need for a comprehensive international peace conference in a conversation with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki. However, a recent Cairo peace summit did not produce a joint statement, with Israel and the United States notably absent.
In public, the United States emphasized Israel's right to self-defense, but privately, officials have been urging caution in conversations with Israel. One U.S. priority is to create an opportunity for negotiations to secure the release of other hostages.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama issued a rare statement, warning against ignoring civilian casualties, which he believed could backfire and alienate generations of Palestinians, erode global support, and undermine long-term peace efforts. He condemned both Hamas' attack and supported Israel's right to defend itself.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Middle East, but the actions to be taken remained unclear as the council's five veto-wielding powers appeared divided.
China and Russia have leveraged Israel's bombardment of Gaza to bolster their standing as champions of the developing world, in contrast to the United States' strong support for Israel, with all three major powers holding veto power on the Council.
With Gaza's 2.3 million residents facing shortages of essential supplies, European leaders are considering a "humanitarian pause" in hostilities, following the United Nations and Arab nations, to facilitate aid delivery.
The U.N. expressed concern about the lack of shelter for desperate Gazans, as Israeli airstrikes have caused widespread devastation in the Hamas-ruled enclave.