Israeli forces will intensify ground operations in northern and southern Gaza as they warn that if all prisoners have not been released, Defense Minister Katz will seize the territory.
Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip continued on the fourth day as its ground forces invaded northern and southern Gaza, and Israeli Defense Minister threatened to seize land on coastal enclaves.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz said Friday that his country will “strengthen” its military campaign against Hamas, “including using all military and civilian pressures, including displacement of Gaza’s population, and implementing President Trump’s voluntary immigration programme for Gaza residents.”
Katz told the Army “instructed them to take additional areas of Gaza, evacuate the population, expand security zones around Gaza and protect Israeli communities; [Israeli army] Local media quoted him as saying.
He also warned that Israel would grab the lands of Gaza until a Gaza-based armed group agreed to release all prisoners still held on the strip.
“The more Hamas is refusing to release hostages, the more territory it will lose. It will be annexed to Israel,” Katz was quoted from the Jerusalem Post.
“If hostages are not released, Israel will continue to hold more and more territory on the strip for permanent control.”
The development comes after Israeli forces invaded the Shabula region of Rafa, the southernmost city of Gaza near the Egyptian border, and Beit Rahiya in northern Gaza late Thursday.
Earlier this week, Israel said it had closed its main north-south routes on its territory as part of expanding its ground operations.
The Koudali behind Al Jazeera, reporting from central Gaza, said that according to Beitrahiya and Rafa residents, the Israeli army did not give advance warnings about their activities.
“They didn’t throw leaflets or drop warnings asking people to evacuate those areas. Suddenly, the Palestinians noticed endless air strikes and artillery fire attacks,” she said.
The Gaza province will have a ground operation as Israel broke a nearly two-month ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, and a nearly two-month ceasefire in Gaza, killing more than 590 Palestinians.
Elsewhere, Al Jazeera reporters said the Zeitoun district of northern Gaza city was hit by an “heavy” attack by Israeli aircraft on Friday.
Air force attacks have also been reported in Kuzaa and Abasan, east of Khan Eunice in South Gaza city.
Lack of assistance, hospitals are “overwhelmed”
Unrwa, the United Nations agency of Palestinian refugees, said the situation in Gaza is significant amid a significant reduction in the distribution of aid supply.
“This is the longest period of no supply that has entered Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023,” Unrwa’s Sam Rose told reporters from central Gaza. “Progress as aid systems have been reversed over the past six weeks of the ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Khoudary said medical workers and hospitals on the strip were overwhelmed amid the new Israeli attacks.
“We’re talking about 18-day Zero Aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip. There’s not one truck for one of the medical supplies that enter the Gaza Strip,” she said.
“When I talk to the doctors, they say that most of these injuries are very serious and most of the injured are children, women, and elderly.”
Additionally, the coastal enclaves were exacerbating the situation due to lack of fuel. “Most Gaza hospitals risk collapse and shut down if they don’t receive fuel in the next few days,” Khoudary said.
On March 2, Israel thwarted all humanitarian assistance in Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire expired and cut off food, medicines and fuel.
This raised global condemnation, and European countries warned that the blockade could violate international humanitarian law.
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