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Israel’s Defense Minister has declared that the military is set to significantly intensify operations across most of Gaza shortly. This announcement comes on the heels of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) completing the establishment of a “security zone” in the southern Gaza Strip, particularly between the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
As part of its military strategy, the IDF has issued evacuation orders for Khan Younis and its vicinity, anticipating airstrikes in response to recent projectiles fired from Gaza, with Hamas admitting to these attacks.
The hostilities resumed on March 18, following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire, leading to the IDF’s recapture of extensive areas within Gaza, which has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The Israeli military has effectively taken control of the border areas of Gaza, which they refer to as a buffer zone, designed to mitigate potential attacks. Officials indicate that the ongoing military actions are intended to exert pressure on Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages, with reports suggesting that 24 of them may still be alive.
In recent statements, the Defense Minister noted the successful acquisition of the “Morag axis,” an area that formerly hosted a Jewish settlement situated between Rafah and Khan Younis. He emphasized that this corridor’s capture effectively isolates the southern city of Rafah from Khan Younis, impacting a significant portion of Gaza’s population.
Furthermore, the Defense Minister warned that IDF actions would “expand vigorously” into additional locations across Gaza, urging residents in these impacted areas to evacuate. He framed this as a critical moment for dismantling Hamas, freeing the hostages, and ultimately bringing the conflict to a conclusion.
Additionally, Katz pointed out that evacuations were also being implemented in northern Gaza, notably in Beit Hanoun and the Netzarim Corridor, where the military seeks to establish a broader security zone.
In a statement, Hamas countered these military actions by claiming that they not only endanger the lives of innocent civilians but also complicate the situation for hostages, leaving their fate uncertain. The UN’s human rights office previously raised concerns about Israel’s evacuation orders, arguing they did not align with international law standards and that provisions for those displaced were inadequate in terms of health, safety, and nutrition.
While the Israeli government defends civilian evacuations as protective measures against being utilized as “human shields” by Hamas, the humanitarian implications remain severe. Following the Minister’s announcement, IDF ordered evacuations in southern Khan Younis, indicating that preparations for counterattacks had commenced due to recent projectiles launched from Gaza.
The IDF reported intercepting three projectiles aimed at Israeli territory, for which Hamas’s military faction took responsibility, albeit without resulting in casualties.
In the latest updates from Gaza, the health ministry reported that, as of Saturday afternoon, 21 individuals had lost their lives and 64 more sustained injuries over a 24-hour period.
The current intensified military campaign by Israel follows an unprecedented incursion on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply, with the Hamas-run health ministry estimating over 50,933 deaths in the region, including 1,563 since the resumption of Israeli military operations on March 18.
Source
www.bbc.com