Israeli troops have carried out bombardments in central Gaza, the death toll in the region rises to 20,915.

Israeli forces launched an assault on Palestinian refugee camps located in central Gaza on Tuesday, according to local residents. This action appears to be a preparatory move for expanding the ground offensive into a third area within the besieged territory.

This potential new front in the conflict underscores the prolonged and destructive path that lies ahead as Israel is determined to defeat Hamas following its October 7 attack on southern Israel. Israeli forces have been engaged in intense urban combat in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, forcing Palestinians to seek refuge in increasingly smaller areas of the territory.

Despite global pressure for a ceasefire and the U.S. urging a reduction in civilian casualties, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the conflict is far from over.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has been among the most catastrophic military campaigns in recent times. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 20,600 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed. It is important to note that the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.

The Israel-Hamas war has also heightened tensions in the region. An Israeli airstrike in Syria killed an Iranian general, prompting threats of retaliation from Iran. Moreover, U.S. warplanes struck Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in response to a drone strike that injured American soldiers.

In central Gaza, residents described a night filled with shelling and airstrikes in the Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij camps. These camps, housing Palestinians displaced from the 1948 war and their descendants, have become even more crowded with people fleeing from the north.

Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed to have struck an Israeli tank east of Bureij, indicating possible Israeli troop movements towards the camp. Warplanes and artillery also heavily bombarded areas east of Nuseirat camp.

The regional fallout includes drone strikes by Iranian-backed militias on a U.S. base in Irbil, northern Iraq, wounding three American service members. In retaliation, U.S. warplanes targeted three sites in Iraq linked to Kataib Hezbollah. Additionally, an Israeli strike in Damascus killed Gen. Seyed Razi Mousavi, an adviser to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Syria.

Throughout the war, Iranian-backed militia groups have increased attacks in support of Hamas. Both Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging missile strikes and shelling across the Israeli-Lebanese border. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched over 100 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial ships have disrupted trade, leading to a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to secure shipping routes.

In Gaza, Israeli troops continue ground combat with Hamas, resulting in extensive destruction. Despite the heavy bombardment, Hamas fighters have demonstrated resilience. The Israeli military reported two more soldier casualties, bringing the total to 158 killed in the ground offensive. Hamas militants launched rocket barrages into Israel, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Israel’s goal remains to dismantle Hamas’ military and governance capabilities in Gaza, following the October 7 attack that reportedly killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of about 240 hostages. Israel also aims to free over 100 hostages still held in Gaza.

The conflict has attracted international criticism due to the high civilian death toll, which Israel attributes to Hamas’ tactics. In Khan Younis, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported evacuations of dead and wounded following an overnight bombing.

The fighting has forced the population into smaller areas, with over a million people seeking shelter in U.N. facilities. The U.N. has warned that a quarter of Gaza’s population is facing starvation due to Israel’s siege, which severely restricts the entry of essential supplies.

Despite the U.N. Security Council’s call for faster aid deliveries, little change has been observed. Meanwhile, negotiations for a pause in fighting to exchange more hostages for Palestinian prisoners have seen limited progress.

Egypt has proposed a comprehensive peace plan to not only end the war but also outline post-war governance in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. However, the plan has received a lukewarm response from both Israel and Hamas, as it does not fully align with Israel’s objective of defeating Hamas or its desire to maintain military control over Gaza. Hamas’ agreement to cede control after 16 years is also uncertain.