Israeli Tanks and Aircraft Strike Gaza as Fierce Gun Battle Rages in 100-Day War Against Hamas

Israeli tanks and aircraft have hit targets in southern and central Gaza as a fierce gun battle continues in the 100-day war since the Oct. 7 attack led by Hamas. Communication and internet services have been down for three days, complicating the work of emergency and ambulance crews. The fighting was concentrated in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas claimed to have hit an Israeli tank, and in Al-Bureij and Al Maghazi in central Gaza, where the military said several militants were killed. Hamas has also launched a fresh salvo of rockets at Ashdod, an Israeli town 25 miles away, showing that they still have rocketry capacity.

The Israeli military stated that it has shifted to a new phase of the war and destroyed several silos used by Hamas to fire missiles at Israel. The total number of people confirmed killed since the start of the war is almost 24,000, with more than 60,000 wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to cease fire, stating that Israel will continue until complete victory over Hamas. The war in Gaza has also led to increased violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including boys aged 14, 16 and 17, in three separate incidents in the West Bank. The war has turned the lives of many upside down, with people demanding an end to the war and compensation for the psychological damage of displacement and the hardships endured. The war has also stoked violence on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, with the military saying it killed four armed militants trying to cross the border.