In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Israel's ground assault continued on Friday with troops tightening their "encirclement" around Gaza City, according to an IDF spokesman. As the civilian death toll in Gaza continues to rise, international calls for a ceasefire are growing louder.

The United States has joined the chorus, calling for a "humanitarian pause" while cautioning Israel about eroding international support if the conflict persists. However, Israel has so far rejected such calls, citing their response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that claimed over 1,400 lives.

According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 9,200 people, including thousands of children, have been killed in retaliatory strikes across the Gaza Strip since the initial attack.

In a related development, Royal Caribbean Group, a major U.S. cruise operator, has decided to remove Israel from its 2024 itineraries due to the ongoing conflict. The decision comes after another cruise operator previously altered their plans in response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Meanwhile, on social media, Palestinian journalists and digital creators documenting the Gaza strikes have seen a significant surge in followers. Motaz Azaiza, whose Instagram account documented life in Gaza before the escalation, has gained over 12.5 million new followers with his daily chronicles of Israeli strikes. Other journalists, digital creators, and individuals based in the region have also experienced a similar increase in their following.

The human toll of the conflict was tragically brought into focus when journalist Mohammad Abu Hatab was killed along with 11 members of his family in southern Gaza in an Israeli airstrike. His network, Palestine TV, declared the incident an airstrike by Israel.

Israel announced its decision to sever all contact with Gaza, stating that Palestinian workers from Gaza who had been in Israel since the outbreak of the war would be returned to Gaza. In an additional move, Israel also withheld funds designated for the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

The evacuation efforts for U.S. citizens in Gaza have continued, with 100 Americans and their family members leaving on Thursday. The White House anticipates more departures in the coming days.

In response to a recent increase in antisemitic incidents, the Israeli government issued a warning to its citizens, urging them to reconsider foreign travel and exercise caution while abroad. The National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Israeli citizens to avoid displaying any outward signs of their Israeli or Jewish identity during their travels.

Intensifying the already dire situation, Israel has claimed responsibility for an attack outside Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical complex. The Hamas-run health ministry reported over a dozen casualties. The Israeli military defended the strike, stating that a Hamas terrorist cell was operating within the ambulance, which was part of a medical convoy preparing to evacuate wounded individuals.

Furthermore, UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO, and UNFPA released a joint statement emphasizing that women, children, and newborns in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the war. The agencies reported that since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, 2,326 women and 3,760 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, with 420 children being killed or injured every day.

In light of the dire situation, the agencies called for an immediate humanitarian pause to alleviate the suffering and prevent the situation from becoming catastrophic.

As the world watches the escalating violence unfold, international pressure mounts for a ceasefire that would protect civilians and bring much-needed relief to the war-torn region.