Israel to expand military operation and occupy 'large areas' of Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says the military will expand its operation in Gaza and occupy "large areas" of the territory.

In a statement on Wednesday, Katz said the expanded operation was aimed at "destructing and clearing the area of ​​terrorists and terrorist infrastructure."

The occupied areas will be "incorporated into Israeli security zones," he was quoted as saying, according to the Telegraph.

According to him, this would require a large-scale evacuation of Palestinians and he called on the population to eliminate Hamas and return the Israeli hostages.

This, he said, was the only way to end the war.

The Israeli army reportedly launched ground operations in Rafah overnight.

The announcement follows his warning last week that the army would soon operate with "full force" in other parts of Gaza.

Israel launched its renewed offensive in Gaza on March 18, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire and release the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza.

Hamas, on the other hand, accused Israel of violating the initial agreement they had agreed to in January.

The humanitarian situation across Gaza has deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks, with Israel refusing to allow aid into the Gaza Strip since March 2 - the longest aid blockade since the start of the war.

Last month the UN announced it was reducing its operations in Gaza, a day after eight Palestinian doctors, six Civil Defense first responders and a UN staff member were killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

More than 50,399 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.Telegraph/