Israel Bombs Gaza After Claiming Hamas Is On "Verge Of Dissolution"

Intense clashes persisted on Tuesday, with Hamas reporting confrontations in central Gaza, while witnesses documented lethal Israeli airstrikes in the southern part of the territory.

Palestinian Territories:Amid Israel's ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza on Tuesday, the country asserted that its efforts to dismantle Hamas have brought the Palestinian militant group to the "verge of dissolution." However, humanitarian leaders express concerns about the imminent threat of disease and famine in the besieged territory. Diplomatic pressure is mounting on Israel to intensify measures for the protection of civilians as fierce clashes, confirmed by Hamas, unfolded in central Gaza, accompanied by reports of lethal Israeli airstrikes in the southern part of the region.

In the latest developments on Monday, airstrikes targeted Gaza's main southern city, Khan Yunis, and the border city of Rafah, where tens of thousands sought shelter. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that Hamas is on the verge of dissolution, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) taking control of its last strongholds.

The conflict initiated with Hamas's October 7 attacks, resulting in 1,200 casualties, according to Israeli figures, and around 240 hostages taken back to Gaza. In response, Israel's military offensive has devastated Gaza, causing at least 18,200 casualties, predominantly women and children, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.

The situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, as described by the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, who drew parallels between the territory's destruction and that of Germany during World War II. The health services in Gaza are severely compromised, with only 14 out of 36 hospitals operational, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Amidst dwindling basic supplies and deteriorating sanitary conditions, civilians in Gaza are facing dire circumstances. Women and girls in Rafah reported resorting to using scraps of cloth for menstrual periods due to the scarcity of supplies.

International aid organizations struggle to reach desperate Gazans under Israeli bombardment, with only the Rafah crossing in Egypt remaining open. Responding to pressure, Israel announced it would screen aid to Gaza at two additional checkpoints to facilitate more assistance.

The UN General Assembly is set to vote Tuesday on a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, following the Security Council's failure to make such a call. The United States used its veto on Friday to block a draft text calling for a ceasefire.

Concerns of a wider conflict persist, with Iran-backed groups targeting US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, and daily exchanges of fire along Israel's border with Lebanon. Israeli bombardment targeted military bases in Iraq and Syria on Monday, and heightened aggression by Iranian-backed Hezbollah has been observed, prompting a commitment from Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz to eliminate the threat to northern Israel's civilian population.

In solidarity with Gaza, a general strike in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Lebanon resulted in the closure of shops, schools, and government offices on Monday.