Tensions rise as Palestinians and Israelis prepare for Gaza ground assault

As Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza, civilians on both sides are bracing for a long and costly war. In Israel, people are stockpiling supplies in bomb shelters, while in Gaza, families are trapped under heavy airstrikes and unable to leave their homes for basic necessities. The conflict is already unlike any previous waves of violence, and both sides have warned of more to come. The last Israeli ground operation in Gaza in 2014 resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. With Gaza's borders closed and infrastructure destroyed, aid groups warn of worsening humanitarian conditions.