Escalation in Israel-Hamas Conflict: Ground Operations Begin as Global Leaders Respond

The Israeli military has officially declared the initiation of ground operations in Gaza on the seventh day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. This marks a shift from aerial bombardments to infantry and tank raids in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, responding to the commencement of ground operations, emphasized, “We are hitting our enemies with unprecedented force. I emphasize that this is just the beginning.”

In parallel, US President Joe Biden, a steadfast supporter of Israel throughout the conflict, addressed the situation during an event in Philadelphia coinciding with the onset of the ground operation. Reiterating unwavering support for Israel, Biden remarked, “The more we learn about the attack, the more horrifying it becomes. These men, who killed a thousand innocent people, including at least 27 Americans, are pure evil. As I have said from the beginning, the United States, make no mistake, Israel is ‘with you.'”

Biden, alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Minister of Defense Lloyd Austin, underscored the purpose of their visits to the region was “to ensure Israel has everything it needs to defend itself and respond to these attacks.” He further revealed that American teams are collaborating with the governments of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab countries to address the impending humanitarian crisis.

Expressing determination to bring back captured US citizens, Biden stated, “I assured them that I would do everything in my power to return the missing Americans to their families. We are working day and night to ensure the release of the Americans detained by Hamas, in close cooperation with Israel and our partners in the region.” The situation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the ongoing conflict.