Israel pushes deeper into Gaza as offensive expands

Reuters

Israel has intensified its ground offensive in northern Gaza, targeting Shejaiya and aiming to carve out broader security zones amid ongoing efforts to pressure Hamas.

Israel’s military says it has intensified its ground offensive in northern Gaza, advancing deeper into Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood to establish a broader buffer zone along the border.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that they eliminated numerous militants and dismantled Hamas infrastructure, including a command center allegedly used for planning and carrying out attacks.

This escalation follows remarks by Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, who announced an expansion of the ground offensive. Katz stated that Israeli forces would capture significant parts of Gaza to create designated "security" zones, though he did not specify which areas would be seized.

The army said it had allowed civilians to evacuate both before and during the operation but did not release casualty figures.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military is working to divide Gaza and seize territory to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages taken during the militant group’s October 2023 attack, which triggered the Gaza war.

Some Palestinians fear Israel’s ultimate goal is the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population, aligning with a plan previously announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to transform the territory into a waterfront property under American control.

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