According to the Palestinian health department in the Gaza Strip on the 8th, in the past 24 hours, the Israeli army's bombing campaign in Gaza has killed at least 249 people and injured 510 people, becoming the deadliest day in the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On January 8, local time, Israel's intelligence and secret service (Mossad) made a rare statement, saying that the Israeli army had encountered the "most difficult day" in Gaza.
Analysts point to the ongoing tensions that have been sparked since Hamas launched a large-scale raid on Israeli military and civilian targets on October 7 last year. However, the dilemma facing the Israeli army is far from over, the war has been going on for almost 2.5 months, and the goals set by the Israeli leadership have not been achieved, such as complete control of the Gaza territory, the destruction of Hamas's combat capability, the release of hostages, etc.
According to the analysis, the objectives of Israel's actions remain vague, with Defense Minister Gallant revealing that the war will continue until all the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 last year are released and "all military and administrative capabilities of Hamas are dismantled and all military threats to Israel are eliminated." This makes the timeline and end criteria for the operation uncertain.
In northern Gaza, the Israeli army announced the partial end of operations and the withdrawal of some troops from the area. And in the center, the Israeli Air Force has intensified its strikes, and new progress is expected after the completion of the terrain transformation. In the south, Israel is methodically demolishing Khan Younis' high-rise buildings and adjacent settlements in an attempt to make a new breakthrough.
However, the Israeli army has encountered difficulties in confronting Hamas's underground communications and transportation problems. Hamas's ability to resist far exceeded Israel's expectations, and the location and destruction of infrastructure such as underground workshops, hospitals, and command centers were not fully achieved. At the same time, the destruction of cities by Israeli bombardment has increased the complexity of the battlefield, making it more difficult for sensors and radio communications to navigate the ruins.
The losses of the Israeli army were also relatively serious. Projections suggest that 12,500 military personnel will be identified as disabled by the end of the conflict. As early as December last year, it was reported that the number of wounded in the Israeli army had reached 5,000, of whom 58% were seriously wounded. Taking this data into account, in less than three months, the irretrievable losses (killed) of the Israeli army may amount to about 1,300 to 1,500 people.
The war in the Gaza Strip continues, and attention to both sides is growing around the world. The international community calls on both sides to exercise restraint and strive for an early peace. However, the development of the situation remains uncertain, and the war could continue to hit both sides hard.