Israeli soldiers look at the remains of a police station which was the site of a battle following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel. [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
By Brian Magiri,

In a significant escalation of tensions, Israel has declared a state of war, leading to a sharp increase in attacks on Gaza. The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll, with at least 600 Israelis and 370 Palestinians reported dead, and thousands more wounded as fighting continues.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, stated that they launched a large-scale operation in response to what they perceive as continued brutality by Israel and its occupation administration against Palestinians. The situation remains highly volatile, with international concerns growing over the escalating violence and its impact on civilians.