Israel Launches “Limited” Ground Operation in Gaza Strip to Retake Corridor
In an unexpected turn of events, Israel has launched a “limited” ground operation in northern Gaza in an effort to retake part of a vital corridor that connects the northern and southern regions of the territory. The offensive comes just two months after a ceasefire agreement was reached with Hamas, and it has already shattered the relative calm that had prevailed in the region.
The announcement of the operation was made by Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, who also warned that the army plans to intensify its attacks on Hamas with an unprecedented level of force. This is a clear indication that Israel is taking a hard stance on the issue and is ready to take all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens and territory.
The corridor in question, known as the Netzarim corridor, bisects northern Gaza from the south and was part of the land that Israel had withdrawn from as part of the ceasefire agreement in January. However, with the recent escalation of violence by Hamas, Israel felt compelled to take back control of the corridor to secure its borders and prevent further attacks on its citizens.
The operation also comes with some serious warnings from Defence Minister Katz. He has cautioned Palestinians in Gaza that the army will soon be ordering evacuations from combat zones and that the attacks on Hamas will become more ferocious if the militant group does not release dozens of hostages they have been holding for the past 17 months. This is a clear message to Hamas that Israel will not tolerate any threat to its security and will not hesitate to retaliate with full force if necessary.
As Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza on Wednesday, the United Nations reported that one of its staff members had been killed and five others wounded in a strike on a UN guesthouse in Gaza. Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services, stated that the explosive ordnance was deliberately fired or dropped, and the blast was not accidental or related to demining activity. The UN body, known as UNOPS, carries out infrastructure and development projects around the world, and this shocking attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers in the region.
The Israeli military, however, has denied any involvement in the attack on the UN compound. But Moreira da Silva has revealed that the compound was hit on Monday, and again on Tuesday, when the UN staff member lost his life. He also stated that Israel was fully aware of the location of the UN facility and that it had been informed after the first strike. This raises serious questions about the Israeli army’s actions and their impact on innocent civilians and humanitarian workers.
The wounded UN staff were immediately rushed to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah, where they were given medical aid. The scenes at the hospital were harrowing, with one man being carried in on a blanket and another lying on a hospital bed with a bandaged knee. The blue protective vest emblazoned with “UN” lying on a nearby bed served as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in the conflict-stricken region.
The resumption of fighting by Israel has led to a sharp rise in casualties in Gaza, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting at least 436 dead, including 183 children and 94 women. The military has maintained that it only targets militants and that any civilian deaths are a result of Hamas operating in densely populated areas. However, the Gaza Health Ministry has refuted this claim, stating that their records do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
In the latest offensive, the Israeli military has struck dozens of militants and militant sites, including the command center of a Hamas battalion. This is a clear indication that Israel has shifted its strategy and is now actively taking the fight to Hamas in a bid to weaken their grip on the region.
The timing of the offensive is significant, as it comes just weeks after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended. The discussions for an extension of the truce had not even begun, with Hamas demanding that Israel stick to the terms of the initial ceasefire, which included a full withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel, on the other hand, has proposed a new deal that would extend the truce and free more hostages held by Hamas, without committing to a full end to the conflict.
The current situation in Gaza is deeply concerning, with the resumption of fighting putting innocent civilians and
