Israel Launches New Ground Operation in Gaza Following Airstrikes

Photo : AFP

he Israeli army said it started a new ground attack in central and southern Gaza, just a day after airstrikes killed over 400 Palestinians. On Wednesday, another 48 people died in the air raids, according to local health workers. The fighting broke the ceasefire that had been in place since January.

The Israeli forces said they were moving to take more control of the Netzarim Corridor, a road that cuts across Gaza. By doing this, Israel aims to separate the north and south of the region. They described the action as a "focused mission" to create a buffer zone between the two areas.

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Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, called the move a "dangerous breach" of the ceasefire. They said they still support the truce and asked mediators to step in and stop the fighting.

During the same day, a UN site in central Gaza was hit by a strike, killing a foreign worker and injuring five others. The Gaza health ministry blamed Israel for the strike, but Israel denied it. The Israeli military said they had attacked a Hamas base, claiming the group was preparing to fire at Israel.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, a UN official, said:
“Israel knew this was a UN building, where people lived and worked. It is a well-known place.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation. He also said that 280 UN staff members have been killed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023.

In Bulgaria, the foreign ministry confirmed that a Bulgarian worker from the UN was among the people killed in Wednesday’s attack.

The new fighting comes as Israel continues its mission to defeat Hamas. On Tuesday, Israel said its latest attacks in Gaza were only the "start" of a bigger campaign.

Both Israel and Hamas blame each other for breaking the ceasefire. The truce had given Gaza’s 2.3 million people a short break from the war. Many have had to leave their homes many times due to the fighting.

The war has caused huge suffering in Gaza. Palestinian health officials say over 49,000 people have been killed. The region is facing shortages of food, water, and fuel. Israel accuses Hamas of hiding behind civilians, while Hamas says Israel is bombing without care for innocent people.