Israel Expands Military Operation in Gaza, Orders Mass Evacuations

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Israel has announced a significant escalation of its military operations in Gaza, aiming to seize large areas of land to incorporate into the country's security zones. The announcement, made by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday, also includes a large-scale evacuation of Gaza's population from combat zones, although specific details regarding the evacuation have not been disclosed.

While signs of the operation’s expansion have yet to manifest on the ground, heavy airstrikes overnight have already resulted in at least 17 deaths, according to local health authorities. The Israeli military's spokesperson for Arabic media has called for residents in Gaza’s southern Rafah area to evacuate and move northward, signaling the imminent scale of the operation.

The defense minister’s statement emphasized that the expanded operation would aim to "crush and clear the area of terrorists and terror infrastructure." Katz outlined plans to seize significant portions of Gaza that would be incorporated into Israel's security zones. He did not, however, specify whether additional Israeli troops would be deployed for the operation.

The development comes amid ongoing aerial bombardments by Israel, which resumed after a two-month ceasefire was shattered in mid-March. These operations have resulted in hundreds of Palestinian casualties, and the United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian crisis, with food supplies rapidly depleting in the region. Local authorities report that all bakeries in Gaza have closed due to severe fuel and flour shortages, worsening the food insecurity in the enclave.

The escalation also follows weeks of protests in Gaza against both Hamas and Israel's ongoing conflict. Israel's government, particularly Katz, has urged Palestinians to remove Hamas from power, claiming that the militant group is endangering the lives of Gaza's civilians. Katz also reiterated that the Israeli military would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until all Israeli hostages are released.

Meanwhile, efforts by Egypt and Qatar to mediate a ceasefire have intensified. On Sunday, Hamas reportedly agreed to a new ceasefire proposal from Egypt, which would include the release of five hostages in exchange for a renewed truce. Israel has responded with its own counter-proposal, but it remains uncertain whether this would also address the return of deceased hostages' bodies.

Growing Concerns Over Hostages and Civilian Impact
The announcement of the expanded operation has sparked criticism, particularly from the families of Israeli hostages. The families' forum expressed shock and horror, accusing the Israeli government of escalating military action rather than seeking a peaceful resolution and securing the release of hostages.

The Israeli military's new chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has been preparing for a large-scale operation for weeks. Such a decision could lead to the Israeli military occupying Gaza for the long term, with significant political and military challenges ahead.