Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has revealed the country's plans for the Gaza Strip after the destruction of the Hamas militant group. He stated that Israel does not intend to control life in Gaza but instead outlined a three-phase approach to its war with Hamas. The first phase involves airstrikes and ground maneuvers, followed by the defeat of pockets of resistance. The final phase will see Israel relinquishing responsibility for life in Gaza.

The Israeli military has conducted intense airstrikes across Gaza targeting Hamas-controlled areas, including a tunnel and arms depots. There have been reports of heavy airstrikes in the town of Khan Younis, with ambulances transporting injured residents to overwhelmed hospitals. Gaza's hospitals are facing severe shortages of medical supplies and fuel for generators, with doctors resorting to performing surgeries by the light of mobile phones. Efforts to provide aid to Gaza have been hindered by the fragile situation. A deal to deliver supplies through the Rafah crossing, the only entry point not controlled by Israel, is being negotiated. However, Israel has emphasized that supplies should only go to civilians and not be diverted by Hamas.

Despite these challenges, the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, has urged for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, stating that it is a matter of life and death. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has displaced over a million people in Gaza, with residents following Israel's orders to evacuate certain areas. However, there are no safe zones, as airstrikes continue to target various parts of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants have launched thousands of rocket attacks into Israel, heightening tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The death toll in Gaza has risen to 3,859, with thousands injured. Israel's defense minister has called on ground troops to be prepared for a potential ground offensive in Gaza.

Major General Yaron Finkelman, the head of the Israel Defence Force Southern Command, has warned that the war will be long and intense but expressed optimism about Israel's success against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also assured soldiers that Israel is determined to achieve victory. US President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support for Israel's security while acknowledging the humanity of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. He has compared the conflict to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, asserting that both Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin seek to annihilate neighboring democracies.

In response, Biden has launched an urgent mission to secure additional military aid for both Israel and Ukraine. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with residents enduring a complete Israeli siege and facing shortages of food, water, and basic necessities. Egypt and Israel are still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals, while Gaza's sole power plant has shut down, forcing reliance on generators. The Greek Orthodox church in Gaza was hit by an Israeli airstrike, causing damage, and 16 Palestinian Christians were killed.

As the war continues, tensions have risen in the region, with protests erupting across Arab countries allied with the US. Meanwhile, Russia has urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, or Jordan. In light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, has called for a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, emphasizing the need to adhere to international humanitarian law and cease military operations against civilians and infrastructure. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has visited the Rafah border crossing, stressing the urgency of aid trucks entering Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.