Israeli officials have announced an expansion of ground operations in the Gaza Strip. This follows a series of Israeli airstrikes that, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, have resulted in over 430 deaths in the past two days. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that troops have advanced to the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the Gaza Strip from north to south, further intensifying the conflict.
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03-20, 2025This renewed assault on the Gaza Strip marks the end of a fragile ceasefire agreement implemented since January. The United Nations previously reported that two people, including a UN staff member, were killed following an explosion at a UN facility in Deir al-Balah. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that an investigation would be launched but denied Israeli responsibility for the incident, highlighting the disputed circumstances.
The IDF claims to have begun "targeted ground activities" to establish a so-called "partial buffer zone between the north and south" of the Gaza Strip. The BBC has seen evacuation orders issued for areas about to be entered by Israeli forces, including Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. The Israeli military has also issued mass evacuation orders for areas along the land border on three sides of the Gaza Strip, suggesting a potentially larger ground operation is imminent, causing panic among Palestinian families, many of whom have been displaced multiple times by the war and had returned home during the ceasefire.
In a video released on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a "final warning" to the Palestinian territory, calling for the return of the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials say Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. Gallant also reiterated calls to end Hamas, stating that if both demands are not met, the alternative will be "total destruction and devastation," escalating the rhetoric.
Earlier, the UN reported that a staff member was killed when a UN facility in Deir al-Balah was damaged on Wednesday. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) stated that an "explosive ordnance was thrown or fired" at the building, which is located in an "isolated" position. The agency added that it is currently unable to confirm the nature of the incident or the type of ordnance used. Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of UNOPS, said he believed "this was not an accident," adding that the situation in the Gaza Strip was "unacceptable," prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to call for a full investigation.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had "fully resumed fighting" and that any ceasefire negotiations would take place "under fire." Airstrikes continued on Wednesday, but the initial bombardment marked the most intense assault since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement went into effect on January 19. Israel and Hamas have failed to agree on how to advance the ceasefire agreement beyond its first phase, with negotiations expected to have begun six weeks ago. Hamas has disagreed with renegotiating the ceasefire under Israeli terms, but did offer to release one living American hostage (along with four bodies) to extend the current arrangement.
In an effort to pressure Hamas, Israel blocked all food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering the Gaza Strip in early March. Now, Israel is demonstrating its willingness to use military force and overwhelming power to compel Hamas to sign its renegotiated ceasefire agreement proposed with the United States. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages, 25 of whom were released alive during the first phase of the ceasefire. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive that, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, has resulted in over 48,500 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
