The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had begun “targeted ground activities” in Gaza, partially recapturing a key area just a day after launching aerial attacks that ended a two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas.
The operation, which follows renewed bombardment of Gaza by Israel, was launched due to accusations that Hamas repeatedly refused to release hostages and rejected mediation efforts. Hamas, in turn, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of violating the truce and putting hostages at risk.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the ground operation aimed to expand the security zone and establish a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza. They confirmed expanding their control further into the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic area dividing central Gaza City and northern Gaza from the southern parts of the strip bordering Egypt.
Hamas called the offensive a “new and dangerous breach” of the ceasefire agreement, insisting that it remained committed to the agreement signed with Israel in January.
Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
According to Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal, at least 70 people were killed across Gaza on Wednesday alone, with 50 casualties reported in northern and central Gaza, and 20 in the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
In Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, 24 casualties occurred following an Israeli strike on a funeral home. Another 21 people, including six children, were killed in the Al-Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
Basal also warned of an impending famine, as Israel’s nearly three-week blockade of humanitarian aid has worsened conditions in Gaza. “We are on the brink of famine threatening the residents of the Gaza Strip,” Basal said.
Background of the Conflict
Under the January ceasefire agreement, Israel had withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor, a vital strip of land dividing Gaza. Although the withdrawal was completed, foreign military contractors continued to control checkpoints separating northern and southern Gaza.
Following the truce, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians returned to homes devastated by 15 months of Israeli bombardment, using various means of transportation, including cars, donkeys, and on foot.
The Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday were among the deadliest of the conflict, killing more than 400 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israeli Warnings and Hostage Situation
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that Gaza’s residents will “pay the full price” if hostages are not returned and if Hamas continues to govern the area.
Israel claims that the recent attacks are part of a series of military actions intended to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages. So far, Israel has recovered only eight living hostages out of the 251 taken by Hamas and its allies on October 7, 2023. The majority of releases have occurred through ceasefire deals involving exchanges for Palestinian prisoners.
UN Worker Killed in Gaza
The United Nations reported that an international aid worker was killed by an explosive ordnance at a UN guesthouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, with five others injured.
According to Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the guesthouse, located in an isolated area, was attacked multiple times this week. “Two days ago, there was a near miss to this premises, and yesterday the premises was hit, and today there was another hit, unfortunately with these casualties,” he said.
Independent experts, including Trevor Ball, a former US Army senior explosive ordnance disposal team member, and Nic Jenzen-Jones, director at Armament Research Services (ARES), analyzed the footage and concluded that the damage was likely caused by an Israeli 120 mm tank projectile, most likely the M339 multi-purpose model.
The IDF has not confirmed the attack and stated that it had not conducted an airstrike near the guesthouse. “We have nothing to add at the moment. If new information arises, we will publish it,” a spokesperson said.
Protests Against Netanyahu’s Government
The escalating violence triggered massive protests in Jerusalem, with thousands gathering outside the Knesset to condemn Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Protesters accused Netanyahu of using the conflict to strengthen his fragile coalition government.
Later on Wednesday, police clashed with demonstrators and arrested 12 people at an anti-Netanyahu rally in Jerusalem. Protesters accused the government of planning to fire Ronen Bar, the chief of the Shin Bet security service.
Video footage showed police officers clashing with demonstrators, with officers pushing protesters and attempting to direct them away from the area. A spokesperson for Israel Police stated that crowd-control measures were used after protesters “severely disrupted public order, including by setting fires in the middle of the roadway, creating a significant risk to fellow protesters.”
As tensions continue to rise, both sides remain at odds over the collapsed ceasefire, with warnings of further escalation and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
