Netanyahu's refusal to agree to cease-fire deepens Israel-Hamas conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a cease-fire and vowed to continue the incursion into Gaza, calling Hamas part of an "axis of evil." Netanyahu stated that the ground operation would create pressure on Hamas to free hostages, but did not provide details. He also asked other countries to join Israel's fight against "the enemies of civilization." Meanwhile, the U.N. warned of the dire water scarcity in Gaza, with the remaining clean water quickly running out. The Israeli military intensified its ground invasion, encountering resistance from Palestinians who refused to evacuate. The Vatican called for a two-state solution and urged both sides to avoid escalating the conflict. Antisemitic threats at Cornell University are being investigated as a potential hate crime, and the Biden administration is unveiling efforts to combat antisemitism on college campuses. The ground attack in Gaza will focus on destroying Hamas' extensive tunnel network.