Hamas fighters and Israeli forces engaged in limited clashes inside Gaza on Sunday as the Israeli military ramped up airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave ahead of what its spokesperson described as the \u201cnext stage\u201d of its war on the militant group. <\/p>\n
Hamas claimed its fighters had destroyed two Israeli military bulldozers and a tank in an ambush near the Gazan city of Khan Younis, forcing Israeli troops to retreat without their vehicles. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed its forces had been operating inside Gaza during the incident, and said an IDF tank struck militants who had fired onb its troops. <\/p>\n
The episode appeared to be one of the first skirmishes between the two sides on the ground inside the strip since war broke out after Hamas\u2019 deadly October 7 attack on Israel which killed more than 1,400 people. The clashes came as the IDF prepares for a potential ground operation in Gaza, amassing huge numbers of troops at the border and pounding the densely populated enclave with near-constant airstrikes in the last two weeks. <\/p>\n
Officials at several hospitals in Gaza said they were overwhelmed with casualties on Sunday, with one describing a \u201cbloody day\u201d and another hospital scaling back dialysis treatments amid electricity and fuel shortages. More than 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel\u2019s retaliation for the Hamas attack began more than two weeks ago, the Gazan health ministry said. <\/p>\n
The US government has pressed Israel to delay its ground operations in Gaza to allow for the release of more Hamas hostages and aid into Gaza, according to two sources briefed on the discussions. The Friday release of two Americans held by Hamas signaled the possible freeing of more of the around 200 believed to be kidnapped by the militant group after its deadly attacks two week ago. <\/p>\n
Israel has offered no timeline for the possible ground offensive on Gaza, but military officials have repeatedly told troops an incursion is imminent. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will increase our strikes, minimize the risk to our troops in the next stages of the war, and we will intensify the strikes, starting from today,\u201d IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday. Hagari added that Israeli forces will \u201ccontinue to destroy terror targets ahead of the next stage of the war, and are focusing on our readiness to the next stage.\u201d <\/p>\n
An IDF soldier died and three were others were injured during preparations for the Gaza ground operation, an Israeli Defense spokesman said Sunday. <\/p>\n
The US and its allies have urged Israel to be strategic and clear about its goals during any ground operation in Gaza, warning against a prolonged occupation and placing a particular emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties. <\/p>\n
The leaders of Spain and the Netherlands spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday, reiterating support for Israel but urging restraint. <\/p>\n
\u201cI reiterated my condemnation of Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and its right to defend itself against them, within the limits of international and humanitarian law,\u201d Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. <\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael must do everything possible to prevent civilians from becoming victims of the fight against Hamas,\u201d Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte posted on X. \u201cRegional escalation must also be avoided at all costs. All this also requires restraint on the part of Israel in the use of force.\u201d <\/p>\n
UN independent experts have warned that Israeli actions in Gaza could result in \u201ccrimes against humanity.\u201d \u201cThe complete siege of Gaza coupled with unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers, is a violation of international humanitarian and criminal law. It is also unspeakably cruel,\u201d the experts said in a statement Thursday. <\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s military carried out dozens of airstrikes on Hamas targets late Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said. <\/p>\n
A senior Israeli official meanwhile ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire for Gaza, amid ongoing US and Qatari efforts to free hostages held there by Hamas. <\/p>\n
\u201cHumanitarian efforts cannot be allowed to impact the mission to dismantle Hamas,\u201d the official also said. <\/p>\n
Violence has also flared in the occupied West Bank. The IDF on Sunday launched an airstrike on the Al-Ansar mosque in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, which it said was being used by militant groups to plan for \u201can imminent terror attack.\u201d It would not say whether the strike came from a jet, in what would be the first fighter jet strike in the West Bank in nearly two decades. <\/p>\n
Three people were killed in the Israeli strike, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday. Two people were also killed following clashes in the West Bank cities of Toubas and Nablus, it said. <\/p>\n
The IDF also said an Israeli tank \u201caccidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post\u201d Sunday near two countries\u2019 border. Egypt said some border guards suffered minor injuries. The IDF apologized for the incident that took place in the area of Kerem Shalom and said it was investigating the matter. <\/p>\n
Kerem Shalom\u00a0is one of Israel\u2019s two border crossings with Gaza. It has been closed since the Israelis imposed a \u201ccomplete siege\u201d on the enclave. The area also came under attack on October 7 when Hamas militants went on a killing spree against civilians after they bulldozed through the Gaza border. <\/p>\n