LONDON — Israel’s renewed army operation within the Gaza Strip “is increasing to crush and cleanse the realm of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and seize giant areas that will probably be annexed to the safety zones of the state of Israel,” Protection Minister Israel Katz stated in an announcement on Wednesday.
The minister stated {that a} “large-scale evacuation of the Gazan inhabitants from the preventing areas” is accompanying the expanded army marketing campaign within the strip.
“I name on the residents of Gaza to behave now to get rid of Hamas and return all of the kidnapped,” Katz added. “That is the one option to finish the battle.”
Israel renewed its assault on neighboring Gaza in March after a pause of almost two months, throughout which period 33 Israeli hostages had been launched by Hamas in trade for some 1,800 Palestinian prisoners, in line with The Related Press.
Israel is demanding the quick launch of all remaining hostages — consisting of 59 folks, 24 of whom are nonetheless believed to be alive — who had been taken again to Gaza through the Hamas-led shock assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Palestinians examine the location of an Israeli strike on a home in Khan Younis within the southern Gaza Strip on April 1, 2025.
Hatem Khaled/Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an announcement that he ordered renewed strikes after Hamas refused Israeli calls for to free half of the remaining hostages as a precondition for extending the ceasefire, the primary part of which expired on March 1. The bombardment resumed with “full pressure,” the prime minister stated on March 18, including that additional negotiations “will proceed solely underneath hearth.”
Israel’s renewed operations in Gaza sparked condemnation from regional powers together with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Israeli authorities spokesman David Mencer stated the resumption was “totally coordinated with Washington.”
Israeli leaders have persistently expressed their intention to totally destroy Hamas and take away the Palestinian militant group from energy in Gaza. Israel intends to retain safety management over the territory as a part of any post-war settlement, Netanyahu, Katz and different prime officers have stated.
Katz final month additionally introduced the creation of a brand new directorate inside the Israeli Ministry of Protection to facilitate the “voluntary emigration” out of strip. The directorate’s work aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians be resettled outdoors of Gaza, Katz stated in February.
Palestinian, United Nations and human rights organizations have prompt that the U.S.-Israeli resettlement coverage is akin to “ethnic cleaning.” Israel has denied such allegations.
Gaza has been devastated by the battle that was sparked by the Oct. 7 terror assault, through which some 1,200 folks had been killed in Israel, in line with the Israeli authorities.
Israel’s subsequent operations in Gaza have killed greater than 50,300 folks and injured greater than 114,000, in line with Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Well being. Greater than 1,000 folks have been killed for the reason that resumption of Israeli strikes on March 18, the ministry stated.
ABC Information’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report
