Israel bombs Gaza on war anniversary as civilians seek peace

On the first anniversary of the conflict, Israel has intensified its air and ground assaults on Hamas in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 52 Palestinians, according to medical sources. The war has devastated the region, leaving much of Gaza in ruins and its residents’ lives in disarray.

In response, Hamas launched a missile barrage targeting Israel’s commercial hub, Tel Aviv, triggering air raid sirens. Two individuals sustained minor injuries, as reported by the Israeli ambulance service. Despite Israel’s extensive military campaign that has significantly weakened Hamas’s capabilities, the group’s ability to retaliate remains evident.

In conjunction with Hamas, the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad fired rockets at Israeli towns near the Gaza border. The Israeli military claimed it intercepted five rockets aimed at Sderot, Nir Am, and other locations.

The conflict began a year ago when Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns and kibbutz villages, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s operations in Gaza have reportedly killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave’s health ministry, and displaced the majority of its 2.3 million residents, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis characterized by widespread hunger and the collapse of healthcare and essential infrastructure.

Israel asserts that militants operate from within densely populated areas, including schools and hospitals, a claim Hamas denies.

On Monday, Israeli tanks moved into Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, encircling the area before launching attacks. Eyewitnesses reported heavy bombardment, and medics stated that several Palestinians were killed, with rescue efforts hampered.

In a controversial strike, Israeli forces targeted a hospital compound in Deir Al-Balah, injuring 11 people. Israel justified the attack by claiming it was targeting Hamas militants using the hospital as a command center.

As tensions remain high, many families in southern Gaza are evacuating their homes, with residents of Khan Younis receiving orders to leave.

Israelis commemorated the first anniversary of the Hamas assault, which has sparked wider regional conflicts, including escalated tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Efforts by U.S.-backed Arab mediators from Qatar and Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have so far been unsuccessful.

Hamas and Israel continue to exchange blame over the stalemate in talks. Hamas demands an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that military action will continue until Hamas is eliminated.

Amid this turmoil, displaced Gazan civilians express a profound yearning for a return to their pre-war lives. One father lamented, “Before Oct. 7, I had dreams. Now, after 58 years of hard work, everything is reduced to dust and rocks.”

Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas’s political office in exile, called on Arab and Muslim nations to initiate “new fronts of resistance against Israel for freedom and dignity.”

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