Israel's top general, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced that the army is close to dismantling Hamas's military operation in the northern Gaza Strip, indicating that military operations will soon extend to areas where hundreds of thousands of civilians are taking refuge. The air force dropped leaflets near Khan Younis, a region previously considered relatively safer, signaling an upcoming shift of ground forces into the southern part of Gaza. The head of the National Security Council warned that these recent operations are just the beginning and that they will continue until the military abilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad are neutralized.

Meanwhile, fighting continued around al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza's largest city as Israeli troops stormed the facility after claiming it was a center for Hamas operations. Israeli officials have presented little evidence to support this claim, but a concrete shaft with electrical wiring and a metal structure resembling a ladder was photographed by New York Times personnel during a visit to the hospital.

The situation in Gaza is worsening as U.N. aid deliveries have been suspended due to fuel shortages and a communications shutdown. The World Food Programme warns that civilians are at immediate risk of starvation, and the lack of access to food supplies is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

As the war in Gaza enters its seventh week, there seems to be no end in sight, despite international calls for a ceasefire or humanitarian pauses. The conflict, triggered by a cross-border raid by Hamas militants, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.