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Israel says it has extended its ground operations in Gaza, after launching a wave of air strikes that the Hamas-run health ministry says killed more than 430 people in two days. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops had moved in up to the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the north and south of the Strip. The renewed assault on Gaza marks the end of the fragile ceasefire deal that had been in place since January.
The IDF said it had begun “targeted ground activities” to create what it called a “partial buffer between the north and south” in Gaza. The BBC has seen evacuation orders issued to areas the military is moving into, including Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.
It has issued numerous orders to Gazans to leave a huge area along the three sides of the territory’s land borders, suggesting that a larger ground operation could shortly take place.
Families have been seen carrying what they can and leaving by foot, by cart or vehicle, to seek safety away from the areas marked by the Israeli military.
In a video message on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a “last warning” to the Palestinian territory, calling for the return of the remaining hostages being held there.
Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Katz also repeated the call for the end of Hamas, saying if neither demands are met, the alternative would be “total destruction and devastation”.
The movement of troops comes after the UN said a member of staff had been killed when its compound in Deir al-Balah was damaged on Wednesday.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for a full investigation.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it had “resumed combat in full force” and any ceasefire negotiations would now take place “under fire”.
Air strikes continued on Wednesday, but the initial bombardment marked the heaviest since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect on 19 January.
Israel and Hamas failed to agree how to take the ceasefire beyond the first phase, with negotiations expected to have started six weeks ago.
Hamas did not agree to a renegotiation of the ceasefire on Israel’s terms, although it did offer to release a living American hostage (and four bodies), to extend the current arrangement.
Israel blocked all food, fuel and medical supplies entering Gaza at the beginning of March in order to put pressure on Hamas.
Now, Israel is demonstrating its willingness to also use its troops and severe military force to push Hamas into signing the renegotiated ceasefire deal it is proposing with the United States.
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