In a night marked by intense clashes, Israel and Hamas have continued their hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported "large exchanges" of fire with Hamas militants overnight as their ground offensive persists. According to IDF, their forces came under attack from what they referred to as "terrorists," who used anti-tank missiles and machine gun fire against them.

Air strikes on the Gaza Strip also continued throughout the night, with Israel claiming to have hit more than 300 targets in total. While Israel stated that its primary focus is on the northern Gaza region, they have not spared any part of the Strip from airstrikes.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, claimed to have ambushed three Israeli vehicles with anti-tank missiles and to have attacked Israeli ground troops with artillery shells in the southern Gaza region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement on Monday night, firmly rejected calls for a ceasefire, stating that "this is a time for war." The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, following a series of attacks by Hamas, resulting in casualties and the kidnapping of hostages.

The situation in Gaza continues to be dire, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting that more than 8,000 people have lost their lives since the commencement of Israel's retaliatory bombings.

The conflict remains a matter of grave concern, with international actors and organizations calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation on the ground is evolving, and efforts to broker a ceasefire are ongoing, but the situation remains volatile.