RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Israeli forces have escalated their ground offensive in urban refugee camps in central Gaza, extending the scope of their bombardment and issuing evacuation orders to residents. As a result, Gaza's main telecom provider has announced a complete interruption of services in the besieged territory.

The military's decision to expand the battle zone raises concerns about further destruction in a conflict that Israel says will last for "many months" in its mission to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after their October 7 attack. Israeli forces have been engaged in heavy urban combat in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, pushing Palestinians into smaller areas in their search for safety.

In response to the escalating violence, the United States has expressed concerns about civilian casualties and called for a ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has stated that the military will intensify its operations against Hamas, sending a strong message to the terrorist group that it will be pursued relentlessly.

The Israeli offensive has already caused significant devastation, with the Health Ministry in Gaza reporting that over 20,900 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom were women and children. In the past 24 hours alone, 240 people lost their lives. The United Nations human rights office has highlighted the ongoing bombardment of central Gaza, resulting in more than 100 Palestinian deaths since Christmas Eve. It is worth noting that some residents were ordered to move to this area by Israeli authorities.

Israel has also announced that it will no longer grant automatic visas to U.N. employees, accusing the organization of being "complicit partners" in Hamas' tactics. However, the Israeli government has stated that visa requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This move could further hinder aid efforts in Gaza, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.

Reports from central Gaza indicate that Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij camps have experienced shelling and airstrikes. These built-up towns house Palestinians who were displaced from their homes during the 1948 war with Israel, along with their descendants.

Israeli military forces have ordered the evacuation of a significant territory, equivalent to the width of central Gaza, and urged residents to relocate to Deir al-Balah. Prior to the conflict, this area was home to nearly 90,000 people, but now it serves as a refuge for over 61,000 displaced individuals, mostly from northern Gaza.

Telecommunication services in Gaza have been severely impacted, with the announcement of a complete interruption by Paltel, the main telecom provider. This follows previous outages experienced during the course of the war. NetBlocks, an organization tracking internet outages, has confirmed the disruption of network connectivity in Gaza, leaving a majority of residents offline.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan has disclosed that several countries have submitted proposals to resolve the conflict, including an Egyptian proposal suggesting the establishment of a transitional Palestinian government in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. However, the details of these proposals have not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized that Israel is engaged in a "multi-arena war" on multiple fronts, including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. The involvement of Iranian-backed militia groups across the region, supporting Hamas, has led to increased hostilities.

As tensions rise, Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging missiles, airstrikes, and shelling along the Israeli-Lebanese border. In the latest incident, Hezbollah launched a missile at a Greek Orthodox church in northern Israel, injuring two Israeli Christians. They also targeted Israeli soldiers, resulting in nine casualties. Israel's military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, criticized Hezbollah for jeopardizing regional stability in support of Hamas.

The conflict has also spilled over into the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels in Yemen have carried out attacks against commercial ships, disrupting trade. In response, a U.S.-led multinational naval operation has been initiated to safeguard shipping routes. Furthermore, the Israeli military shot down a "hostile aerial target" in the Red Sea, which it claimed was heading towards Israeli territory.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with more than 85% of the population displaced from their homes and a quarter of the territory's population facing starvation due to Israel's ongoing siege. Despite calls from the United Nations Security Council to expedite aid deliveries, little progress has been made.

Amidst the conflict, reports emerged of a strike on a home in Mawasi, a rural area in the southern province of Khan Younis, which had been declared a safe zone by Israel. Tragically, one woman was killed, and several others sustained injuries. Israel's military has affirmed that it will not refrain from operating in safe zones if it detects terrorist organization activities posing a threat to the country's security.

Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, the majority of whom were civilians. They also took over 240 people as hostages, a situation which Israel seeks to resolve by securing the release of the remaining captives.

As the conflict continues, Hamas has demonstrated resilience, while the Israeli military has reported the deaths of two additional soldiers, bringing the total number of casualties since the start of the ground offensive to 161.

Reporting from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Wafaa Shurafa; from Cairo, Samy Magdy; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.