Israel's Intense War in Gaza: Unprecedented Destruction and Escalating Death Toll

The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has become the bloodiest conflict between Israelis and Palestinians since 1948, with over 8,800 Palestinians killed and large parts of northern Gaza reduced to rubble. Israel has struck over 11,000 targets in Gaza, far exceeding the pace of previous wars. Israeli troops aim to bisect Gaza and encircle the northern part of the enclave, while Hamas seeks to harass Israeli troops with guerrilla warfare. Israeli generals expect the war to shift to raids against specific targets in the coming weeks, which could last for months or even a year. The dysfunction within Binyamin Netanyahu's government and public anger over his handling of the crisis have compounded the divisions within Israel's war cabinet. The war has also raised concerns about potential attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.