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In a significant development, Israel has commenced a new ground offensive in Gaza. This move marks an effort to reclaim areas relinquished during a now-defunct ceasefire, with Israel warning of escalating military action unless Hamas releases the hostages it continues to hold in the region.
The ground operation follows a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to terminate the truce, which was immediately succeeded by extensive airstrikes. These attacks resulted in over 400 casualties in Gaza, marking one of the conflict’s most brutal days since it erupted 17 months ago.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declared, “The air force’s strikes against Hamas terrorists are only the beginning.” He issued a stark warning about the “total annihilation” of the embattled territory should the hostages not be freed and called for Hamas’s elimination from Gaza. “Israel will exercise unprecedented force,” he stated emphatically.
The Israeli military has ordered forced evacuations for Palestinians, advising them to leave towns and cities near the border. They also reported retaking parts of the Netzarim corridor, effectively isolating Northern Gaza from the South.
This latest military push has terminated a tenuous two-month ceasefire period. During this ceasefire, Hamas had released over two dozen hostages while Israel withdrew from significant areas within Gaza.
The tentative agreement, crafted to conclude the hostilities and ensure the rescue of remaining captives, unraveled as Israel set new terms for Hamas. Earlier this month, Netanyahu instigated a comprehensive blockade of the Gaza Strip, holding Hamas responsible for rejecting Israel’s revised terms. This proposal demanded the upfront release of most of the 59 hostages believed to be alive, without securing a commitment to end the conflict.
The blockade cut off the flow of humanitarian aid, which was a fundamental condition of the ceasefire, initiated around the time of US President Donald Trump’s January inauguration. Furthermore, Israel severed the last power line into the beleaguered enclave, leading to the shutdown of a desalination plant and exacerbating the severe lack of clean water for Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
Health officials in the region report that over 48,000 lives have been lost since Israel responded to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 250 hostages.
Despite backing from the Trump administration, Israel’s decision to renew its military operations and abandon talks of peace has met with condemnation from Arab nations and some European countries. This move also defies the pleas from hostage families who urge continued negotiations.
In separate developments, a European UN staff member was killed, and five of his colleagues suffered serious injuries in an explosion at their lodgings in Deir al Balah, central Gaza, as reported by the UN Office for Project Services. UNOPS detailed that a known guesthouse location, repeatedly reported to the IDF, was struck on Wednesday morning, following another incident the night before.
According to the agency’s report, an explosive device was fired at the facility, detonating within. A UN spokesperson mentioned it was too premature to identify those responsible, while the Israel Defense Forces disclaimed any involvement.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, the executive director of UNOPS, expressed his anguish, stating, “What is happening in Gaza is beyond belief.”
