The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had commenced “targeted ground activities” in Gaza, successfully partially recapturing a key area following an aerial bombardment that ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
This offensive follows Israel’s renewed strikes on Gaza, which Israel claims were necessary due to Hamas’s repeated failure to release hostages and rejection of mediation offers. In contrast, Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of unilaterally breaking the truce, jeopardizing the hostages’ safety.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), troops began operations in the central and southern regions of the Gaza Strip to expand a security zone and create a buffer between the north and south of the territory. The military stated that control had been extended further into the Netzarim Corridor.
Hamas labeled this latest action a “new and dangerous breach” of the ceasefire agreement, asserting its commitment to the terms established in January. The Israeli attacks reportedly resulted in at least 70 fatalities across Gaza, with casualties spread between northern and central regions and southern cities like Rafah and Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, 24 people were killed following an Israeli strike on a funeral home, while another 21, including six children, lost their lives in a strike on the Al-Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
The Civil Defense in Gaza warned of an imminent famine as Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid exacerbates the dire conditions in the enclave. Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal stated, “We are on the brink of famine threatening the residents of the Gaza Strip.”
Under the January ceasefire, Israel had previously withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects Gaza. Although Israel officially withdrew, foreign military contractors have continued to manage checkpoints in the area.
After the ceasefire was implemented, many Palestinians traveled through the corridor to return to homes that had been destroyed during the prolonged conflict. Israeli airstrikes earlier this week reportedly resulted in over 400 deaths in Gaza, marking one of the deadliest days of the conflict.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if Israeli hostages were not returned and Hamas continued its governance in Gaza, residents would “pay the full price.” An Israeli official noted that the recent airstrikes are the initial phase in a broader military strategy aimed at compelling Hamas to release more hostages, reflecting Netanyahu’s view that military pressure is crucial for securing their release.
So far, only eight hostages have been brought back to Israel from a total of 251 taken by Hamas and its allies on October 7, 2023, with most having been released as part of ceasefire agreements.
In related news, the United Nations announced that one of their international aid workers was killed by “explosive ordnance” at a UN guesthouse in central Gaza, injuring five others. The Palestinian Ministry of Health attributed the attack to the Israeli military, which the IDF denied, stating they had not conducted airstrikes near the guesthouse.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), reported that the guesthouse in Deir al-Balah is frequented by UN staff and had previously been attacked. He emphasized that attacks on humanitarian facilities are violations of international law.
While protests erupted outside the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, critics accuse Netanyahu of exploiting the war to stabilize his government. Police clashed with demonstrators, resulting in 12 arrests during an anti-Netanyahu rally. Authorities stated that demonstrators had disrupted public order by setting fires on roadways, prompting the use of crowd control measures.
Credit: CNN
