Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced plans to escalate military operations in Gaza, aiming to seize “large areas” of the territory. These areas are intended to be transformed into what he referred to as “security zones.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, Katz emphasized that the objective of this expanded operation is to “destroy and clear the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.” He indicated that this initiative would necessitate a large-scale evacuation of Palestinian residents.
This announcement follows reports from local hospitals indicating that at least 15 Palestinians were killed in overnight incidents within the territory. The Hamas-run civil defense agency revealed that first responders had recovered 12 bodies, including those of children, from a residence in the Khan Younis area.
Escalating conflict and humanitarian concerns
Witnesses have reported extensive Israeli airstrikes and shelling along the border with Egypt, raising concerns about an imminent major ground offensive in Gaza. Earlier this week, Israeli military authorities ordered approximately 140,000 residents of Rafah to evacuate their homes, in addition to issuing new evacuation orders for northern Gaza.
Throughout the conflict, Israel has progressively expanded a buffer zone along the perimeter of Gaza, having already seized control of a central corridor within the region. The renewed offensive commenced on March 18, following Hamas’s rejection of a new U.S. proposal aimed at extending a ceasefire and securing the release of 59 hostages believed to be held in Gaza.
In response, Hamas has accused Israel of violating a previous agreement established in January. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel expressed their shock upon learning about the expanded military operation. They urged the Israeli government to prioritize the release of all hostages still detained in Gaza.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
During his announcement regarding the territorial seizures, Katz urged the Gazan population to take action against Hamas and to assist in freeing the remaining Israeli hostages; however, he did not provide specific guidance on how this should be accomplished.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks, exacerbated by Israel’s decision to halt aid deliveries to the region since March 2, marking the longest aid blockade since the onset of the conflict. The United Nations reported a reduction in its operational capacity in Gaza just one day after the deaths of eight Palestinian medics, six civil defense responders, and a UN staff member at the hands of Israeli forces in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military’s campaign against Hamas was triggered by an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 50,399 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began.