Hamas says death toll in Gaza tops 8,000

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli strikes in the region have killed 8,000 people. Israel says it is expanding its military operations in Gaza, slowly moving tanks and troops into the area. Israel has been at war with the terrorist group Hamas since it attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people.

Is Israel invading Gaza? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday the war had entered a “second stage,” acknowledging that ground operations were underway. The Israel Defense Forces have also reported that they are striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Netanyahu on Sunday. The White House said Biden reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and called for more humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Dig deeper: Read A.S. Ibrahim’s column in WORLD Opinions about what Israel faces in a ground war in Gaza.