On Monday evening, the Israeli military began a major troop buildup along the Gaza border amid intensifying clashes between Israel and Hamas. The move comes after Hamas launched hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities, with the most recent barrage targeting the city of Ashkelon.
The Israeli military has deployed tanks and troops to the border and set up a number of defensive positions to protect against further rocket attacks. The military has also increased the readiness of Iron Dome batteries in the area, which are designed to intercept rockets fired from Gaza. The military has also closed some roads leading from Israel to Gaza, and imposed a temporary flight restriction over parts of the Gaza Strip.
In response to the rocket attacks, Israel has launched over 20 airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli military says it has targeted a number of military compounds and training facilities linked to Hamas. However, the airstrike campaign has had limited success, with many of the rockets still making it through the Iron Dome defense system.
The latest violence follows a period of relative calm, during which the two sides had engaged in talks over a number of issues, including the opening of borders and the possibility of a ceasefire. But the talks have failed to reach a conclusion and the violence has resumed.
The latest developments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the deployment of more troops to the Gaza border earlier this month. The move was seen as an attempt to put pressure on Hamas to end its rocket attacks by signaling to the militant group that Israel is prepared to use military force to protect its citizens.
The situation is made even more complex by the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Gaza, where the healthcare system is already under severe strain. The Israeli military has expressed concern that the virus could be used by Hamas as a “biological weapon” to spread the disease over the border.
It is unclear when the current escalation will end. But for now, the two sides remain on a collision course. The Israeli military is prepared to respond to any further rocket fire, and Hamas is vowing to continue launching its rockets until a truce is reached. Only time will tell if the current crisis will be resolved peacefully, or if it will lead to further bloodshed.