Deadly Strikes in Gaza as Israel Expands Offensive to Seize ‘Security Zones’
Israel's military escalates operations in Gaza, with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing to capture large sections of the territory and establish "security zones," amid mounting civilian casualties.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced an intensified military campaign in Gaza aimed at taking control of "large areas" of the territory, which he said would be turned into "security zones." The stated goal is to eliminate Hamas and dismantle its infrastructure, a move expected to involve mass evacuations of Palestinians.
The latest strikes have resulted in a significant civilian toll. At least 19 Palestinians, including nine children, were reported killed in an Israeli air strike on a UN-run clinic sheltering displaced families in Jabalia, northern Gaza. The nearby Indonesian hospital confirmed the casualties.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas operatives allegedly using the UN facility as a command-and-control center. It said measures were taken to minimize harm to civilians, including aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering. However, video verified by the BBC showed chaos at the scene, with people and ambulances rushing in and smoke rising from a wing of the building, parts of which had collapsed.
A spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) confirmed one of its buildings was hit but provided no further details on casualties or the building’s use.
Elsewhere in Gaza, overnight air strikes claimed at least 20 more lives, according to local hospitals. In Khan Younis, in the south, the Civil Defence said 12 bodies — including those of children and women — were recovered from the rubble of a home. One resident, Rida al-Jabbour, said her neighbor and the woman's three-month-old baby were among the dead. “Since the strike, we haven’t been able to sit, sleep, or function,” she told Reuters.
Israeli Army Radio reported that tanks and ground forces have begun advancing into central and eastern areas of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. This development comes just days after Israel issued new evacuation orders for approximately 140,000 residents in Rafah and parts of northern Gaza. Israel has steadily expanded its buffer zone along Gaza’s borders and taken control of a corridor bisecting the territory.
The current offensive was reignited on 18 March after Israel blamed Hamas for rejecting a US-backed ceasefire proposal and failing to release the remaining 59 Israeli hostages. Hamas, however, accused Israel of breaching the terms of a previous agreement made in January.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing many families of those still captive, expressed dismay at the renewed offensive. “We were horrified to wake up to this news,” the group said, calling on the Israeli government to prioritize the safe return of all hostages.
In his announcement, Katz urged the people of Gaza to act against Hamas and help free the hostages, though he did not provide details on how they could do so.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened dramatically. Israel has blocked aid deliveries since 2 March — the longest such blockade since the war began. Last month, the UN reduced its operations in Gaza following a deadly Israeli strike that killed eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence workers, and a UN staff member.
Israel’s military campaign began in response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and led to the abduction of 251 others. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 50,399 people in Gaza have been killed since the conflict began.
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