Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announces this Wednesday the extension of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. The goal is to seize “large areas” in order to create safety areas. The Hebrew state also encourages the Gazaouis to overthrow Hamas.
The military operation extends “to crush and clean the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, and to seize vast areas that will be integrated into the security zones of Israel”, details the minister in a press release. “I call the inhabitants of Gaza to act now to chase Hamas and make all the hostages,” he added.
Army spokesman in Arabic language, Avichay Adree, addressed on different social networks to the inhabitants of large areas of Rafah and the city near Khan Younès. “Do not listen to Hamas’ attempts from preventing you from evacuating to remain his human shields. Immediately evacuate the designated areas ”, renewing a call already launched on Monday.
At least thirty dead in strikes this Wednesday
Israel resumed its intensive bombing on Gaza on March 18, then launched a new terrestrial offensive, ending a ceasefire of almost two months with Hamas. The rescuers of the Civil Defense of the Gaza Strip reported this Wednesday that two strikes on homes killed at least fifteen people, including children.
“Thirteen martyrs, including children, were killed following the bombing of a house sheltering people displaced in the center of Khan Younès,” said Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson. He also reported two dead in another strike on a house in usirat (center). In addition, in Jabalia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, at least 16 people died due to another strike occurred on Wednesday. According to civil defense, 9 children are among the victims. The shot would have targeted a UNRWA building, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, where the clinic of a refugee camp is located.
Since the resumption of fighting, more than 1,000 people have been killed, according to data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Health of Gaza, controlled by Hamas, bringing the total assessment to 50,400 dead since the war triggered by the attack on Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023. The attack on October 7 led to the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, in the majority of civilians AFP (France Press Agency) based on official data. Of the 251 people kidnapped, 58 are still retained in Gaza, 34 of which died according to the army.
“No flour, no bread, no food or water”
To increase pressure on Hamas, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid since March 2, aggravating shortages in the besieged territory. In the absence of flour and sugar, bakeries have closed. “The situation is very difficult, there is no flour, no bread, no food or water,” said a father, Mahmoud Sheikh Khalil.
Hamas and Israel said on Saturday that it has received a new proposal from a truce from mediator countries, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aimed at restoring the ceasefire and obtaining the release of the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas on Sunday, assuring that his leaders could then leave Gaza.
“Regarding Hamas in Gaza, military pressure works (…) we can see breaches start to appear” as part of the indirect negotiations, “he said. The Islamist movement, in power in Gaza since 2007, said that it could give up administering the territory after the war, but refuses to lay down their arms.
Finally, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, a figure of the far right, went this Wednesday morning to the esplanade of the mosques in East Jerusalem, an occupied sector annexed by Israel. Since the formation of the Netanyahu government at the end of 2022, Ben Gvir went at least eight times to this disputed site of the old town of Jerusalem, causing an international outcry each time. Third holy place of Islam, the esplanade of the mosques is built on the ruins of the second Jewish temple, destroyed in the year 70 by the Romans. For the Jews, it is the Mount du Temple, the most sacred place in Judaism.