Israel Expands Military Operation in Gaza, Seizes Territory

Israel's military operation in Gaza is set to escalate as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announces plans to seize vast portions of the territory amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

In a bold statement on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that the military would intensify its operations in Gaza, aiming to capture "large areas" of the territory. He emphasized that the objective was to "destroy and clear the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure," with any seized land being transformed into "Israeli security zones." Katz noted that this mission would necessitate a significant evacuation of Palestinians and encouraged the population to oust Hamas and secure the return of Israeli hostages as the only means to conclude the ongoing conflict.

The announcement comes on the heels of the military reportedly beginning ground operations in Rafah overnight. This escalation follows Katz's prior warning that full military force would soon be unleashed in new areas of Gaza. The renewed offensive, which started on March 18, was launched in response to Hamas's rejection of a U.S. proposal to extend a ceasefire and free 59 hostages being held in Gaza.

Hamas has countered the allegations, claiming that Israel has breached their previously agreed-upon deal from January. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks, exacerbated by Israel's decision to halt aid shipments to the region since March 2, marking the longest aid blockade of the conflict.

Last month, the UN announced a reduction of its operations in Gaza following tragic events that resulted in the deaths of several Palestinian medics, first responders, and a UN staff member due to Israeli military actions. This escalation of military force is a response to an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and left 251 others held hostage. The toll of the ongoing war has reached catastrophic levels, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 50,399 fatalities in Gaza since the onset of hostilities.