Israel Prepares Ground Assault in Gaza, Ceasefire Talks Resume

Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a new ground assault in Gaza is being prepared by Israel. The primary objective is to exert pressure on Hamas to secure the release of the hostages currently held within Gaza. This decision comes after Palestinian officials reported a devastating toll of approximately 300 lives lost due to a series of airstrikes over the past 72 hours. The situation is further complicated by the fact that, despite the escalating conflict and preparations for further action, ceasefire talks have resumed on Saturday in Qatar. To gain a deeper understanding of the situation, we spoke with Gerry Shih, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for The Washington Post. "Basically what we've seen," Shih explains, "is that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been willing to launch a massive military campaign into Gaza, potentially involving five divisions and 60,000 troops. This ground assault is intended as a pressure tactic to force Hamas to negotiate."