Israel has expanded its military operation in the Gaza Strip, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, aiming to “crush and cleanse” enemy forces and seize large areas. The operation is part of a broader effort to eliminate Hamas and secure Israeli control over the territory.
The renewed assault began in March after a pause of nearly two months, during which 33 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Israel is demanding the release of all remaining hostages, who were abducted to Gaza in October 2023.
Regional powers including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have condemned the resumption of hostilities, while the US has said its operations are “fully coordinated.” The Israeli government insists on retaining security control over Gaza as part of any post-war settlement.
The operation has already claimed thousands of lives, with more than 1,200 people killed in Israel when the conflict began and over 50,000 Palestinians killed since the resumption of strikes. Human rights organizations have accused the US-Israeli resettlement policy of being akin to “ethnic cleansing,” a claim Israel has denied.
As the operation continues, Defense Minister Katz calls on Gaza residents to eliminate Hamas and return kidnapped individuals. The situation remains volatile, with further negotiations under fire.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/israeli-operation-gaza-expanding-seize-large-areas-defense/story?id=120401894