The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared the expansion of their ground operations in the Gaza Strip, according to IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari's announcement on Friday. This comes in response to a heavy round of airstrikes that have been targeting the besieged enclave, causing widespread devastation and reportedly severing communication links.

Residents of Gaza described the recent airstrikes as the most intense they have experienced since Israel began retaliating against Hamas' October 7 terror attack nearly three weeks ago. Hagari stated that the IDF is operating forcefully on all fronts and will continue to strike Gaza City. He also called on Gaza civilians to evacuate south in order to ensure their safety.

Although a substantial ground offensive has been anticipated since the initial attacks, it remains unclear if the recent announcement marks the beginning of that push. Israel has already amassed thousands of troops along the border and implemented a blockade, leading to what aid agencies are calling a humanitarian crisis.

Reporters from CNN, who are present in southern Israel near the Gaza border, witnessed a series of large explosions rocking Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave. They also noted a significant increase in military activity for the past few hours, describing it as unusual, intense, and sustained. Earlier in the evening, a massive wall of heavy smoke billowed from Gaza into southern Israel.

The intensity of the bombardment has resulted in the destruction of all remaining international routes connecting Gaza with the outside world, according to a statement released by Jawwal, the mobile service provider in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of intentionally cutting off communications and internet access in Gaza, characterizing it as a deliberate attempt to create darkness and enable further crimes prior to an IDF ground operation.

Speaking to CNN, Shtayyeh emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling on the world to take action and put an end to the aggression and potential massacres that could unfold during an incursion. Eyewitnesses at the Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al Balah reported receiving the bodies of 11 people killed and numerous injured individuals due to the intensified bombardment. They also anticipated that casualties would rise in the coming days.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society expressed their complete loss of contact with the operations room in Gaza and their teams operating in the area. Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for the approval of a pending ceasefire resolution at the United Nations. Submitting a message on X, Safadi stated that voting against the Arab #UNGA resolution would mean approving the ongoing war and senseless killings.

As the UN General Assembly prepares to vote on the resolution, which urges an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, both the United States and Israel have rejected the proposition. The IDF's announcement coincides with ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages, with reports of "significant progress" in negotiations earlier on Friday.

When questioned about a potential deal, Hagari dismissed rumors and referred to them as psychological terror and a cynical use of Israeli civilians by Hamas. The White House refrained from comment on Israel's expanded military campaign, claiming it would not be appropriate to interfere. However, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the US had engaged in active conversations with Israel regarding a humanitarian pause for the release of hostages.

In addition to the escalating conflict, the main UN agency in Gaza warned of an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis faced by over 2 million Palestinians in the enclave. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), highlighted the shortage of food and water, the overflow of sewage in the streets of Gaza, and the looming risk of diseases. Although some aid has trickled in from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, Lazzarini described the deliveries thus far as inadequate and insufficient.

As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the developments and calling for actions to mitigate the escalating violence and alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.