Israel Escalates Airstrikes in Gaza and West Bank, Preparing for the Next Phase of Conflict

Israel's military has vowed to intensify its airstrikes on Gaza and carried out an airstrike on a militant compound under a mosque in the West Bank, signaling a new phase of war against Hamas. The IDF has amassed troops outside Gaza and dropped leaflets warning residents to evacuate. Violence has also flared in the occupied West Bank, with Palestinians killed in confrontations. The US has urged Israel to be strategic and clear about its goals during any ground invasion, while the US military is sending more missile defense systems to the region. Conditions in Gaza have become dire, with a catastrophic humanitarian situation, and the UN's World Food Programme urgently requires $74 million to sustain its emergency response. Israel has warned against regional actors getting involved, and the IDF has targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. Israel has expanded a voluntary evacuation plan for communities near the Lebanon border, and there are reports of Israeli airstrikes in Syria.