Israel's Surprising Gains and Intensifying Conflict in Israel-Gaza War

Israel has regained control over towns near Gaza and is preparing for a crushing campaign against Hamas militants. The government has approved the call-up of an additional 60,000 reservists, raising the total number mobilized to 360,000. The scale of the devastation caused by the Palestinian incursion is becoming clear, with Israeli soldiers carrying slain residents on stretchers and bloated bodies lying on the ground. The Israeli military has recovered the bodies of around 1,500 Palestinian assailants. The airstrikes against Gaza will be "bigger than before and more severe." The conflict has also escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with at least 19 Palestinians killed. The international community has expressed support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas, while Japan has taken a more measured approach in its statements. The United Nations' top human rights official has condemned the violence and warned against a complete siege of Gaza. The war has also raised concerns about its impact on the global economy.