Israeli forces have intensified their ground offensive in central Gaza, targeting urban refugee camps after bombarding Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate. The escalation in the battle zone raises concerns of further destruction in a conflict that Israel says will endure for "many months" as it aims to crush the ruling Hamas militant group following its October 7 attack.

The ground fighting has been concentrated in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, forcing Palestinians to seek refuge in increasingly smaller areas. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to deepen the fighting, disregarding calls from the United States and international pressure for a ceasefire.

The offensive carried out by Israeli forces is already being considered one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 20,900 Palestinians have been killed, with two-thirds being women and children. The ministry's count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. In the past 24 hours alone, 240 people have lost their lives.

Gaza's main telecom provider, Paltel, has announced yet another complete interruption of services, leaving the besieged territory disconnected from the outside world. This telecom outage, which has occurred numerous times during the war, is likely to leave most residents offline, according to NetBlocks, a group monitoring internet outages.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered residents of central Gaza to evacuate a wide belt of territory, urging them to relocate to the nearby town of Deir al-Balah. The military has claimed to be operating in the Bureij camp, stating that it has discovered a Hamas training camp in the area.

The ongoing bombardment of central Gaza has taken a heavy toll, with the United Nations human rights office reporting over 100 Palestinian lives lost since Christmas Eve. Furthermore, Israel's decision to no longer grant automatic visas to UN employees has been heavily criticized, with the government accusing the world body of being complicit partners in Hamas' tactics. This move could further impede aid efforts in Gaza.

Residents of central Gaza have described intense shelling and airstrikes in the Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij camps, which are densely populated with Palestinians who were displaced from their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 war and their descendants.

While Israel is engaged in the conflict in Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has highlighted the nation's multi-arena war on seven fronts, including the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Iranian-backed militia groups across the region have increased their attacks in support of Hamas, contributing to the overall escalation of tensions.

In the midst of the conflict, the United States has been involved in discussions with Israel's Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan work towards curbing civilian casualties and achieving a cease-fire.

As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, diplomatic efforts are underway, with several countries, including Egypt, proposing initiatives to resolve the conflict. Hamas has expressed openness to such initiatives, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive cease-fire.

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