Israel has commenced a “limited ground operation” in northern Gaza to seize control of a significant corridor that runs through the territory. In a statement, the Israeli defence minister indicated that military operations would intensify following a two-month ceasefire that was recently shattered. The military claims to have recaptured the Netzarim corridor, which it abandoned as part of a ceasefire with Hamas initiated in January.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned that evacuations from conflict zones in Gaza will be mandated soon, and attacks against Hamas will escalate, particularly if hostages held for over 17 months are not released. As Israeli airstrikes continue, the United Nations reports the tragic death of one staff member and injuries to five others from an attack on a UN facility in Gaza. The head of the UN Office for Project Services stated that the airstrike was intentional, contradicting the Israeli military’s assertions of mistakenly targeting the area. Despite warning the Israeli military about the UN compound’s location, subsequent strikes hit near and directly at the site.
Following these bombings, injured individuals were rushed to hospitals, including a man carried on a blanket, while the Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 436 fatalities, including children and women, as a direct consequence of the renewed hostilities. The Israeli military maintains it targets militants, blaming civilian casualties on Hamas due to combat occurring in densely populated areas.
In addition to addressing militant sites, the military confirmed targeting a Hamas command centre as it resumed its air offensive. The resurgence of violence threatens to escalate into full-scale war, just weeks after the ceasefire allowed for negotiations concerning hostages. However, discussions between Israel and Hamas regarding the terms of a prolonged ceasefire were never established. Hamas has insisted on an unconditional retreat from Gaza and an end to hostilities, while Israel has presented a new proposal focused on extending the truce and securing the release of more hostages without obliging to conclude the ongoing war.
The recent escalation has raised significant concerns about humanitarian conditions, especially for the already fraught situation in Gaza, impacting countless lives and raising alarm over the implications for regional stability. As these developments unfold, international reactions continue to heighten, with many urging for immediate action to restore peace.