On Monday, Israeli troops advanced into Gaza as a part of a military campaign aimed at freeing a hostage who was in the hands of Hamas. The operation also included the evacuation of an impossible hospital as well.
The hostage, held captive for several days, was freed from captivity unharmed. The Israeli government had imposed a tight security lockdown that went into effect early Sunday morning in an effort to prevent Hamas from arranging a rescue attempt of the hostage.
At the same time as the rescue operation was taking place, Israeli troops were also advancing into Gaza with the intention of evacuating an impossibly damaged hospital that was in the same vicinity. This hospital, which has been repeatedly struck by Israeli airstrikes, has become too dangerous for local medical staff to continue their work in the area.
Israeli forces are now looking to evacuate all of the patients and medical staff of the hospital as well as to remove any remaining military personnel from the area before withdrawing back across the border.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, Monday’s events are seen as yet another sign of the growing tension between the two sides. The Israeli government has offered very little detail as to their intentions behind the operation in Gaza, and although the hostage has now been freed, it is unclear as to what lasting effects these events will have on the region’s tenuous peace.
Only time will tell what will become of the situation, but one thing is certain – the conflict in Gaza is sure to remain unresolved for some time to come.