Israel Begins Ground Operation in Gaza and Regains Control of the Netzarim Corridor
Israeli Forces Advance in the Netzarim Corridor as Airstrikes Kill 60 Palestinians, Mostly Women and Children
Watan-Israel announced that its army began a limited ground operation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, while 60 Palestinians were killed in new airstrikes.
In a statement, the Israeli army said the operation aims to expand the defensive zone and establish a line between the northern and southern parts of the Strip.
The statement added that Israeli forces had taken control of and expanded their presence in the central Netzarim corridor in the middle of the Gaza Strip.
Israel Expands Military Presence in Netzarim, Plans Evacuations in Gaza
According to the Israeli statement, the Golani Brigade will be stationed in the southern area and will be ready for operations inside Gaza.
Israeli occupation forces had previously controlled this area before withdrawing as part of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19.
Earlier today, Israeli media reported that the army had closed parts of Salah al-Din Street in the Netzarim area.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated that foreign forces responsible for inspecting the Netzarim corridor left the area yesterday.
In the same context, Israel’s Channel 14 reported that Israeli forces had partially entered the Netzarim corridor but did not have full control over it yet.
At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that the evacuation of residents from combat zones in Gaza would begin soon, urging civilians to undertake what he called “voluntary migration.”
Katz also threatened Hamas with an unprecedented military action if it does not accept the proposal of U.S. President Donald Trump and release all prisoners.
The Israeli army had previously ordered the evacuation of Beit Hanoun in the north and the towns of Khuza’a and Abasan al-Kabira and al-Jadida in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Strip.
The United Nations confirmed that thousands of people have been displaced from Gaza due to Israeli evacuation orders.
Dozens of Casualties
The Israeli announcement of the limited ground operation comes as the occupation forces continue their airstrikes on various parts of Gaza for the second consecutive day, resulting in the deaths of 60 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.
Medical sources reported that the total death toll had risen to approximately 460 Palestinians since the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes began at dawn yesterday.
In the latest developments, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that 14 Palestinians were killed and 30 others injured in an Israeli strike on a mourning tent in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.
Additionally, two Palestinians were killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Hanoun, also in northern Gaza.
Earlier, four civilians, including a child, were killed by an Israeli drone attack in the Al-Mawasi area, northwest of Khan Younis.
Furthermore, the correspondent reported that six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a civilian vehicle in the Masbah area, north of Rafah.
Israel had announced the resumption of its military operations in Gaza under the pretext of pressuring Hamas to make concessions regarding the prisoners, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government refused to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Since late October 2023 and until the ceasefire took effect, Israel carried out an unprecedented assault on Gaza, including a ground invasion of the besieged and devastated territory.
