Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has announced the country’s intention to seize “large areas” of the Gaza Strip, escalating military operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.
In a statement on Wednesday, Katz confirmed that Israeli troops would conduct extensive ground operations to eliminate what he described as “terrorist infrastructure” and incorporate additional land into Israel’s security zones.
Renewed Airstrikes and Intensified Ground Operations
This declaration follows a night of intensive Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis and Rafah, where medical officials reported at least 21 civilian casualties, including five women—one of whom was pregnant—along with two children. Three men from the same family were also killed.
Israeli ground forces have reportedly moved into the Rafah region, while airstrikes were also carried out in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that an additional division was deployed to southern Gaza earlier on Wednesday.
Over the past week, Israel issued sweeping evacuation orders for large areas of Rafah and northern Khan Younis, directing civilians to relocate to al-Mawasi, a designated "humanitarian zone" that has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
Land Seizure and Ongoing Conflict
Katz did not specify the extent of land Israel aims to capture. However, according to Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, the IDF has already seized 62 square kilometers—approximately 17% of Gaza’s total land area—since the war began in October 2023.
The latest military escalation follows Israel’s abrupt termination of a nearly two-month ceasefire on March 18, during which both sides had been negotiating potential further prisoner exchanges. The Israeli government, however, repeatedly postponed these talks, leading to the renewed hostilities.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The United Nations (UN) estimated on March 23 that over 140,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the ceasefire’s collapse. More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes, with many displaced multiple times.
Amid the escalating conflict, Israel has also imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid, food, and fuel in an effort to exert pressure on Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since hostilities resumed.
Efforts led by Qatari and Egyptian mediators to restart negotiations remain stalled. Meanwhile, the resumption of military operations has fueled anti-government protests in Israel, particularly among families of hostages who remain in Gaza.
The Origins of the Conflict
The ongoing war was triggered by the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and 250 hostages were taken, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched an extensive military campaign in Gaza, which, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, has resulted in at least 50,357 deaths, the majority of whom are civilians.
As international pressure mounts, concerns continue to grow over the worsening humanitarian crisis and the long-term impact of Israel’s expanded territorial control in Gaza.
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