Battles Rage in Gaza as Israel Vows to Continue Fighting

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, Israel has made it clear that it is willing to fight for months or even longer in order to defeat the Hamas rulers of Gaza. However, a key mediator has stated that the willingness to discuss a cease-fire is diminishing.

Israel is now facing international outrage due to its military offensive, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians. The country has received diplomatic support and arms from its close ally, the United States. As a result of the ongoing conflict, about 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory. U.N. agencies have warned that there is no safe place for them to flee to.

The head of the U.N. in Gaza has described the current situation as the worst he has ever seen, and he has issued a warning about the possibility of a total humanitarian collapse within the territory.

In recent days, the United States has provided vital support to Israel by vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution that aimed to end the fighting. Additionally, the U.S. has pushed through an emergency sale of over $100 million worth of tank ammunition to Israel.

Russia, on the other hand, backed the resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his dissatisfaction with the "anti-Israel positions" taken by Moscow's envoys at the U.N. and elsewhere during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Groups of men, who were unarmed, have been seen in videos being held in similar conditions - bound, blindfolded, and without clothes. Detainees from a recently released group have reported being beaten and denied access to food and water, according to The Associated Press.

Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, explained that the reason behind undressing the detainees is to ensure that they are not hiding explosives. Dozens of arrests have taken place in two Hamas strongholds.

In the Gaza City neighborhood of Shijaiyah and the Jabaliya refugee camp, where Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war reside, heavy fighting is still ongoing. Hamza Abu Fatouh, a resident of Shijaiyah, stated that the Israeli forces are attacking anything that moves, leaving the dead and wounded in the streets as ambulances struggle to reach the area.

During the course of the war, Israel had ordered the evacuation of the northern third of the territory, including Gaza City. However, tens of thousands of people have chosen to remain despite the dangers.

Additionally, heavy fighting is taking place in and around the southern city of Khan Younis, which Israel claims is Hamas' command center. As a result, many families have been forced to flee the city and seek refuge in the border town of Rafah.

Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

Aya Moustafa Zourab shared her heartbreaking story with CBS News. She described how her entire street was engulfed in flames when they had to flee their home. Zourab's child is disabled and in need of medical attention. However, there is no treatment available, and she does not have the financial means to travel. She has been forced to beg others for food and water.

Waiting Days for Food

The scarcity of food in Gaza has caused the prices to skyrocket. Abdulsalam al-Majdalawi has been going to a U.N. distribution center every day for almost two weeks, hoping to secure supplies for his family of seven.

"Thankfully, today they finally drew our name," al-Majdalawi said.

Although one hundred trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, according to Wael Abu Omar, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, this is far from enough to meet the needs of the population.

Juliette Toumi, a spokesperson for the U.N. in Gaza, expressed concern about the dangerous conditions that aid agencies are facing.

"We have reached a point where we are uncertain if we can fulfill our mandate and provide assistance to the people in Gaza," Toumi said. "This is an unprecedented situation."

The World Food Program has issued a warning that half of the population in Gaza is facing extreme hunger and severe water restrictions. Save the Children, a charity group, has also stated that deaths from starvation and disease might surpass the number of casualties from bombings in Gaza.

War in Gaza Continues with High Palestinian Death Toll

The ongoing war in Gaza has entered its third month, and the death toll among Palestinians has now surpassed 17,900, with the majority of the victims being women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for the civilian casualties, alleging that the militants endanger civilians by fighting in residential neighborhoods. The Israeli military reports that 97 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the offensive. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants continue to launch rockets into Israel.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Hamas still holds 117 hostages and the remains of 20 people who were killed in captivity or during the October 7 attack. The militants aim to exchange them for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israel claims to have provided detailed instructions for civilians to evacuate to safer areas, despite its ongoing strikes on what it identifies as militant targets. Many people have fled to areas along the border with Egypt, which is one of the few remaining places where aid agencies can deliver food and water.

Although a series of airstrikes have occurred near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Israeli Colonel Etad Goren assured CBS News that it is safe for people to pass through.

"We are not attacking the humanitarian corridor," he stated. "Secondly, we are aware of the exact locations of the shelters. We have not attacked any trucks, including U.N. trucks that are meant to deliver goods or provide shelter."

However, despite these assurances, aid agencies are warning that tens of thousands of Palestinians will go to bed hungry and thirsty, with many lacking proper shelter.

Demonstrations in Support of Palestinians and Against Antisemitism

Yesterday, demonstrations took place in several cities around the world, showing support for the Palestinians and calling for an end to the ongoing war. At the same time, thousands of people marched in Europe to protest against antisemitism.

The war has led to increased tensions throughout the Middle East. Along the border, Lebanon's Hezbollah engaged in exchanges of fire with Israel, while other Iran-backed militant groups targeted the United States in Syria and Iraq. Israeli artillery, drones, and airstrikes have intensified over Lebanese border towns.