Israel Intensifies Military Offensive Across Gaza Amid Escalating Conflict

Recent military activity and evacuation orders signal heightened tensions as Israel aims to dismantle Hamas' control while facing international scrutiny.

Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, has declared a significant escalation in the ongoing military offensive against Hamas, set to expand operations across a majority of Gaza. Katz announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully taken control of a "security zone" in southern Gaza, notably between the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. This strategic move comes in response to recent projectile attacks from Gaza, which Hamas has owned up to, prompting Israel to issue evacuation orders for affected areas.

The intensified military campaign resumed on 18 March following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire and has since displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, as Israeli forces claim substantial territorial gains along Gaza's borders. Officials assert that the current operations aim to compel Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages, with 24 presumed alive. Katz stated that the IDF has managed to complete the takeover of the "Morag axis," a corridor connecting key locations, effectively severing Rafah from Khan Younis and creating a more defined Israeli security zone.

"Katz emphasized that the IDF would soon expand its activities into more regions of Gaza, urging local populations to evacuate areas designated for fighting." He referenced northern locations, including Beit Hanoun, where evacuations are already underway to facilitate the creation of additional security zones.

In a contrasting narrative, Hamas condemned the offensive, citing civilian casualties and a deteriorating situation for the hostages. The UN’s human rights office has echoed concerns, alleging noncompliance with international law regarding evacuation orders and inadequate provisions for displaced civilians. Despite criticisms, Israel maintains that these actions are essential for civilian protection and to counter Hamas’s alleged use of residents as human shields.

Following Katz's remarks and a wave of new evacuation orders, IDF air defenses intercepted projectiles launched from Gaza, with no reported injuries from the incidents. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 21 individuals lost their lives and 64 were injured in the past 24 hours amid ongoing violence, bringing the toll in Gaza to over 50,933 since the conflict escalated following an unprecedented attack on 7 October 2023. The IDF's renewed campaign has accounted for approximately 1,563 deaths in Gaza since operations restarted in March.