Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the military will expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip and occupy "large areas" of the territory. This move foreshadows a further escalation of the conflict, sparking widespread concern from the international community, which will likely increase diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
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04-05, 2025Katz stated in a statement on Wednesday that the expanded operation aims to "destroy and eliminate terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the area." He said that the occupied areas will be "incorporated into the Israeli security zone." He also called for a mass evacuation of Palestinians and urged local residents to eliminate Hamas and release Israeli hostages, claiming that this is the only way to end the war. It has been reported that the Israeli military began ground operations in Rafah overnight, signaling the start of a potentially lengthy and complex military engagement.
This statement was released after Katz warned last week that the military would soon operate "at full strength" in other areas of Gaza. Israel relaunched its offensive in Gaza on March 18, accusing Hamas of rejecting a new US-proposed deal to extend the ceasefire and release the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the initial agreement they reached in January, creating a stalemate in the negotiations.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. Since March 2, Israel has refused to allow aid into the Gaza Strip, marking the longest aid blockade since the start of the war. Last month, the United Nations announced that it would scale back its operations in Gaza, a day after eight Palestinian medical workers, six civil defense paramedics, and one UN staff member were killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza, further straining the already fragile humanitarian response.
The Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken hostage. According to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 50,399 people have been killed in Gaza in the ensuing war, creating a dire need for a peaceful resolution.
