Israeli Prime Minister Tours Southern Israel Amid Escalating Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited southern Israel on Saturday, where a surprise Hamas attack had occurred a week earlier. He encouraged the troops to prepare for upcoming challenges, as reported by Xinhua.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, indicated that the forces were gearing up for an expanded offensive, possibly involving a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

A statement from the military mentioned that IDF forces were preparing for a wide range of operational plans, including coordinated attacks from the air, sea, and land.

Rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel continued on Saturday, with Israeli air-defense systems intercepting many of the rockets. The IDF also continued its airstrikes in Gaza and issued a second warning to residents, urging them to evacuate to the southern part of the enclave. Safe passage was briefly allowed on two major routes in Gaza, followed by renewed airstrikes.

Israel's mass evacuation order faced opposition from several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, as well as regional and international organizations like the Arab League, United Nations, and the World Health Organization.

According to the IDF, they targeted and killed Ali Qadi, a commander of the Hamas commando force believed to be responsible for the surprise attack in southern Israel a week ago.

Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi admitted in a press conference that Israel had made a mistake by not anticipating the attack. He also warned that Hamas would no longer control the Gaza Strip after Israel's military operation.

Hanegbi mentioned that approximately 150 to 200 hostages were believed to be held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and there were no ongoing negotiation efforts with Hamas.

In northern Israel, the IDF and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah had been exchanging missiles and artillery fire since Sunday, raising concerns of a second front in the conflict.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict entered its eighth day, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported a death toll of 2,215 Palestinians with 8,714 injuries. Israeli media, on the other hand, reported around 1,300 Israeli fatalities since October 7, with nearly 3,400 injuries, citing official sources.