The Israeli army has announced the start of a ‘limited ground operation’ in the north of Gaza to seize part of a corridor dividing the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in his announcement that the attacks would be of ‘unprecedented intensity’. Gallant also threatened that the attacks would intensify further if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages. The Israeli army declared that it had recaptured a portion of the Netzarim corridor, which it withdrew from in January as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The army also claimed to have targeted Hamas facilities in new attacks, including a battalion command center.

AT LEAST 436 KILLED IN LATEST ISRAELI AIR STRIKES Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, had lost their lives in the attacks launched by Israel yesterday morning. In the latest update on Wednesday, the Ministry stated that the number of casualties had doubled since the conflict with Israel began. Following Israel’s escalated deadly attacks in the region, 970 people lost their lives in the last 48 hours.

ATTACKS END CEASEFIRE The Israeli army resumed violent attacks yesterday morning in the Gaza Strip, following the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19th. Hamas leaders accused Israel of not honoring its promises, failing to fulfill its responsibilities in front of the mediatory countries, and restarting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip also accused the Netanyahu government of “abandoning the prisoners” by breaking the ceasefire. Opposition parties in Israel highlight that the attacks coincide with controversial political moves from Prime Minister Netanyahu, like dismissing the head of the domestic security agency Shin Bet.