The Israeli military has reclaimed control over a critical passageway that separates northern Gaza from the south, intensifying its ongoing operations in the region. The renewed strikes came after Israel ended a temporary ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday, with the intensity of attacks carrying into Wednesday albeit at a reduced scale. The Gaza Health Ministry disclosed that over 400 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday, with the majority being women and children, marking it as the deadliest day of the conflict which has spanned 17 months. The ministry’s records, however, do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israel’s Defense Minister warned of increased attacks on Gaza, stating they will continue until Hamas releases its hostages and relinquishes control of the territory. While Hamas has yet to retaliate militarily, Israel’s actions could potentially reignite full-scale war. In Israel, air raid sirens sounded as missiles from Yemen targeted multiple areas of the country early Thursday. Although explosions were heard over Jerusalem, there were no reported injuries, and the attack was not immediately claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have resumed missile strikes after the ceasefire collapse. No injuries were reported by the MADA rescue service.
United Nations peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have observed several Israeli actions violating a UN resolution. According to the UN spokesman, the violations were spotted north of the U.N.-designated boundary, known as the Blue Line. The peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is urging a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to enable the Lebanese army to expand its deployment in the region. In tandem, peacekeepers discovered weapons caches, including rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition in southern Lebanon, which were reported to the Lebanese Army.
A UN peacekeeper in southern Lebanon sustained injuries after stepping on a mine during operation activities by UNIFIL in the village of Zibqin. The injured peacekeeper was treated at a nearby UNIFIL facility and transferred to a hospital in Beirut in stable condition. This incident highlights the risks posed by unexploded ordnance, prompting UNIFIL to enhance demining efforts.
In northern Gaza, Palestinians are evacuating towns by various means after Israeli orders to leave. Reporters witnessed individuals in Beit Hanoun relocating to Jabaliya, with vehicles packed with personal belongings. The recent evacuations recall the earlier displacement of thousands who returned home during the ceasefire, only to be displaced again as Israel resumes its military campaigns.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing parallels with U.S. President Trump, denounced efforts by a “deep state” to undermine him. He compared alleged local adversities and criticisms to the challenges faced by Trump, asserting that the legal system is being weaponized against right-wing leadership. Netanyahu’s recent actions, including the firing of a domestic security chief and attempts to remove the attorney general, have sparked public outcry, along with accusations against state institutions of bias.
Israel expressed condolences over the death of a UN employee in Gaza, denying responsibility according to their preliminary findings. The death occurred following ordnance impact on a UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. Meanwhile, a Jordanian surgeon volunteered at Al-Aqsa Hospital reported three UN staffers receiving treatment, including one with a severe leg injury requiring amputation, and another with a serious brain injury.
Israeli air strikes continue across Gaza, with one strike in the north killing at least 17 and injuring 30 from a single family during a condolence gathering. The Israeli military did not comment but continues asserting its airstrikes target Hamas militants while blaming civilian casualties on Hamas’s operational tactics in populated regions. Meanwhile, other Israeli airstrikes in Rafah city took further lives, targeting a vehicle with alleged Hamas militants onboard.
In Yemen, the Houthis reported continued airstrikes from the U.S., injuring several civilians in Sanaa. Strikes have targeted key areas like Sanaa and Saada, drawing criticism and accusations from the Houthis of disproportionate military action. The attacks follow a prolonged airstrike campaign by the U.S., igniting further tensions with threats from President Trump targeting the Houthis with promises of formidable countermeasures.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the fatal strike on a U.N. facility in Gaza, urging for a formal investigation without naming parties responsible. Despite Israel’s denial of targeting the compound, Guterres emphasized compliance with international laws to safeguard UN premises.
In Syria, government efforts are underway to re-integrate Kurdish militias under state control, following negotiations resulting in a potential merging of forces including the Syrian Democratic Forces by year’s end.
Additional eyewitness accounts in Gaza described the aftermath of the strikes on the U.N. building, noting repeated shelling and fatalities. Israel maintains no intentional damage was targeted at the U.N. facility. In the backdrop, Hamas accused Israeli declarations against the ceasefire deal following the closure of a chief Gazan route, insisting on negotiation readiness that factors in the ceasefire’s second phase.
Re-escalation in the Gaza corridor appears to intensify as Israeli forces launch determined ground operations, preceding further directives expected from Israel’s Defense Minister for Palestinian evacuations. In Lebanon, tensions persist as military engagements escalate across the borders with Syria being linked to contraband disputes and factional violence.
A strike on a U.N. guesthouse in Gaza caused fatality among international U.N. staff, stirring condemnation and a call for accountability. Amid ongoing Israeli military activity, Gaza has reported soaring casualties and persistent airstrikes despite international pleas for peace. U.N. operations were seemingly aware of the facility’s dangers, yet circumstances intensified leading to tragic consequences.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced disapproval on Israeli actions as regressive, urging halt to violence and facilitating the hostages’ release, alongside supporting humanitarian facilitation into Gaza. Meanwhile, Malaysia pledged admission for Palestinians freed during a prior ceasefire, symbolizing a tangible diplomatic gesture in support of enduring hostilities.