Gaza War Intensifies as U.S. Approves New Weapons Sale to Israel

Over 21,500 Palestinians Killed, 90% Displaced; Israel Targets Hamas Leadership Amid Fears of Forced Displacement

The ongoing war in Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, has resulted in over 21,500 Palestinian deaths, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, and has displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza's residents.
The Israeli army has expanded its ground offensive into new battle zones, pushing thousands of Palestinians into areas bordering Egypt, sparking fears of a second 'Nakba' or catastrophe of forced displacement.
Israeli forces are determined to dismantle Hamas, with the Biden administration approving a new emergency weapons sale to Israel despite international calls for a ceasefire.
The Israeli army claims to have destroyed a hide-out used by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, considered the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attacks, and is offering a $400,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The war has severely impacted Israel's economy, with over half a million people mobilized for military service, and the American administration is pressuring Israel to focus on Gaza's humanitarian crisis and establish a new local government.