In the latest developments of the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli forces have announced that they have "completed the encirclement of Gaza City". This comes a week after the start of the ground operation in the Palestinian territory.

According to Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, Gaza City is considered the center of the Hamas terrorist organization. He stated that the concept of a ceasefire is not currently on the table, indicating the ongoing intensity of the conflict.

Meanwhile, tragedy strikes as an Israeli strike hits a residential building in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the death of at least 15 people, according to Gaza's Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal. Rescue efforts are being hindered by the difficulty in reaching the area due to crippled infrastructure and fuel shortages. Residents fear that there may be more casualties trapped under the rubble.

The Gaza Health Ministry has provided staggering numbers, reporting that over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began over three weeks ago. Among the casualties, 3,760 are children under the age of 18. These figures are unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and are around four times higher than the death toll in the 2014 Gaza war.

On the Israeli side, more than 1,400 people have been killed, with the majority being civilians killed by Hamas during their incursion into Israel in October. Seventeen Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives since the start of the ground operations.

The situation in Gaza's hospitals is reaching a critical point. The main generator in a northern Gaza hospital has failed, and other hospitals are facing shortages of fuel and medicine. The Gaza Health Ministry warns of an imminent health catastrophe and appeals to all parties involved to facilitate the urgent flow of medical aid into the area.

In a retirement letter, Craig Mokhiber, a senior UN official and US human rights lawyer, strongly criticized the UN for not stopping what he referred to as "a genocide unfolding before our eyes" in Gaza. Mokhiber accused the Israeli government and military of perpetuating decades of persecution against the Palestinian people. He also accused the US, UK, and Europe of complicity in the ongoing assault.

US President Joe Biden has called for a humanitarian "pause" in the Israeli-Hamas war and exerted pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Palestinians a brief reprieve from the relentless military operations.

The US Congress is now engaged in discussions regarding aid to Israel. Democrats and Republicans are in favor of providing immediate military aid to Israel. President Biden has proposed combining aid for Israel with funds for Gaza, Ukraine, and partners in Asia. However, the Republican leadership in the House plans to vote on an envelope of aid solely intended for Israel.

Amnesty International has verified the use of white phosphorus in both Gaza and Lebanon, which is illegal under international law when used in populated areas. Amnesty's senior crisis advisor, Donatella Rovera, criticized the international community for its inaction in the face of the humanitarian crisis.

Multiple countries, including Australia and Bulgaria, have begun evacuating their citizens from Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. The evacuation efforts are ongoing, with some individuals still awaiting their turn to leave.

As the encirclement of Gaza City is completed and the death toll rises, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The international community continues to grapple with finding a resolution to this devastating and protracted war.