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| Israel to expand military operation and seize 'large areas' of Gaza | Israel to expand military operation and seize 'large areas' of Gaza |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says the military will expand its operation in Gaza and seize "large areas" of the territory - incorporating them into what he described as "security zones." | |
| In a statement on Wednesday, Katz said the expanded operation aimed to "destroy and clear the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure", and would require a large-scale evacuation of Palestinians. | |
| It comes after local hospitals said at least 15 Palestinians were killed in the territory overnight. | |
| There is a growing sense that a new major Israeli ground offensive is looming in Gaza, with reports that Israeli forces began operations in Rafah overnight. | |
| This week, Israel's military ordered an estimated 140,000 people in Rafah to leave their homes and issued new evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza. | |
| Israel has already significantly expanded a buffer zone around the edge of Gaza over the course of the war, and seized control of a corridor of land cutting through its centre. | |
| Israel launched its renewed Gaza offensive on 18 March, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire and free the 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza. | Israel launched its renewed Gaza offensive on 18 March, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire and free the 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza. |
| Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the original deal they had agreed to in January. | Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the original deal they had agreed to in January. |
| The humanitarian situation across Gaza has dramatically worsened in recent weeks, with Israel refusing to allow aid into the Gaza Strip since 2 March - the longest aid blockage since the war began. | The humanitarian situation across Gaza has dramatically worsened in recent weeks, with Israel refusing to allow aid into the Gaza Strip since 2 March - the longest aid blockage since the war began. |
| Last month the UN announced it was reducing its operations in Gaza, one day after eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence first responders and a UN staff member were killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. | Last month the UN announced it was reducing its operations in Gaza, one day after eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence first responders and a UN staff member were killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. |
| The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. | The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. |
| More than 50,399 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. | More than 50,399 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. |