Israeli forces have advanced into Southern Gaza, the last area that Hamas fully controlled. This is in days following the end of the ceasefire with Hamas.

According to the U.S. State Department, what led to the end of the ceasefire was Hamas’ failure to honor an agreement to release female hostages. Now, Israel has advanced into the most-populated area of Gaza.

Professor Benjamin Radd, with the UCLA Center for Middle East Development, joined “Inside the Issues” host Amrit Singh to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas War.

“Now that we’ve got the bulk of the population moved to the south, from the IDF’s perspective, it’s basically now seeking the command and control structure of Hamas,” Radd said.

As Israeli forces move into southern Gaza, caught in the middle are the many civilians who were instructed to take refuge there when the war began, leaving them now with little options.

“Well, let’s be honest, they have nowhere to go,” Radd said. “It’s the tragedy here is that there is less available refuge for them. On top of that, you have dwindling to nonexistent supplies of medical resources, food, water, basic needs.”

The IDF said Hamas still holds 136 hostages. Radd said releasing those hostages would be a start in helping bring about an end to the war.

“The only way to get, I would say, any kind of long-term relief for [sic] Palestinians living in Gaza is for the hostages to be released. Now that’s going to end Israel’s massive bombardment, or at least minimize it,” Radd said.