Israeli forces have launched a relentless assault on central Gaza, employing land, sea, and air strikes, as the war on Hamas shows no signs of abating, according to military officials. Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, Israel's Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, vowed that the conflict would last for "many months", citing the absence of "quick fixes" or "magic solutions".

Reports from medics indicate that five Palestinians were killed in a single air strike in the Al-Maghazi district of central Gaza. Additionally, seven bodies arrived at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, indicating the ongoing violence in the region. Residents have also reported heavy fighting in the Al-Bureij district and the nearby village of Juhr Ad-Deek, where Israeli tanks are stationed.

The escalation in Israeli attacks has resulted in an increased death toll among Palestinians. Gaza's health ministry estimates that nearly 21,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has reported three additional soldiers killed in action, bringing the total military losses since the start of ground operations on October 20 to 166.

Israel has intensified its raids, particularly in a central area south of the Gaza Strip's waterway. Civilians have been urged to leave the area, although many have expressed concerns about the lack of safe places remaining. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released footage from various Gaza hospitals, revealing the dire state of Gaza's health capacity. Sean Casey, the WHO emergency medical team coordinator, described the scenes as a "bloodbath" and highlighted the significant decrease in healthcare capacity.

Israel's military continues to target what it labels as "terror targets" in Gaza. At one point, naval forces were deployed to strike suspects deemed a threat to ground troops. The Shejaia district of Gaza City was targeted, resulting in secondary explosions that indicate the presence of explosives used to target Israeli soldiers, according to a military statement.

The ongoing violence has severely disrupted communication and internet services in Gaza, making it difficult for emergency medical teams to reach those in need. The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported a complete loss of communication with their teams working in the Gaza Strip. The VHF radio communication network, the only means of communication during this blackout, sustained damage from artillery shelling, further complicating the situation.

The United Nations Human Rights Office spokesperson, Seif Magango, expressed grave concern about the continuous bombardment in Middle Gaza, which has claimed over 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve. The conflict has generated global attention, with even Israel's closest ally, the United States, urging Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties.

The toll the conflict has taken on the Palestinian people is devastating. Thousands are feared to be buried under the rubble, and nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced from their homes, many multiple times. On Tuesday, the Gaza authorities buried 80 unidentified Palestinians whose bodies were handed over by Israel through the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

As the conflict persists, efforts to bring home remaining hostages and a transition to a different phase of the war focusing on Hamas leaders were discussed between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. The US has been pushing Israel to scale down its operations and facilitate a more targeted approach. However, the US still faces criticism in the region for its perceived support of Israel, particularly after being targeted by Iran-backed militants in the Middle East.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed in an interview that Israel intends to remain in Gaza after the war, despite global opposition. Abbas suggested that the US could influence Israel to agree to Gaza becoming part of a future Palestinian state.

In the midst of the conflict, the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a container ship in the Red Sea, as well as an attempted attack on Israel using drones. The militia cited these actions as responses to Israel's assault on Gaza. Additionally, an Israeli airstrike in Syria on Monday resulted in the killing of a senior leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

The situation in Gaza remains grim as Israeli forces persist in their offensive against Hamas. International pressure for a ceasefire continues to mount, with concerns over the mounting civilian casualties and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.