Deadly strikes in Gaza as Israel expands offensive to seize 'large areas'

In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, recent air strikes have resulted in significant casualties and destruction. Reports indicate that twelve individuals lost their lives in an overnight strike on a residential building in Khan Younis, a city located in the southern region of Gaza. A Palestinian woman was seen at the site of the strike, visibly distressed by the devastation. The Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, announced that the military would be intensifying its operations in Gaza, aiming to seize larger areas of the territory, which he referred to as 'security zones. ' The objective of this expanded military action is to eliminate what they describe as terrorists and their infrastructure. This operation will necessitate the evacuation of many Palestinian residents from their homes. Tragically, later reports confirmed that at least 19 Palestinians, including nine children, were killed in a strike on a United Nations clinic that was providing shelter to displaced families in Jabalia, a town in northern Gaza. The nearby Indonesian hospital reported these casualties, and the Israeli military stated that their target was Hamas terrorists believed to be hiding in the clinic. Overnight strikes across Gaza resulted in at least 20 additional fatalities, according to local hospitals. The Civil Defence reported that their first responders recovered the bodies of 12 individuals, including women and children, from a home in Khan Younis. One neighbor, Rida al-Jabbour, shared her grief, revealing that a mother and her three-month-old baby were among the deceased. She expressed her anguish, stating, 'From the moment the strike occurred we have not been able to sit or sleep or anything. ' The Israeli military has stated that they are investigating the reports of civilian casualties. The Civil Defence also reported that the strike in Jabalia hit two rooms in a clinic operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which was being used as a shelter for those displaced by the conflict. Video footage verified by the BBC showed numerous people and ambulances rushing to the scene, with smoke billowing from a section of the building where two floors had collapsed. The Israeli military explained that they targeted Hamas operatives who were allegedly hiding inside a command-and-control center used for coordinating terrorist activities. They claimed to have taken various precautions to minimize civilian harm, including aerial surveillance and gathering additional intelligence prior to the strike. However, they did not provide further details regarding the casualties or the specific use of the building. Additionally, there were reports of extensive Israeli air strikes and shelling along the border with Egypt overnight, leading to a growing sense that a new major ground offensive by Israel is imminent in Gaza. Israeli Army Radio reported that Israeli tanks and ground forces have begun advancing into central and eastern parts of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. This week, the Israeli military ordered approximately 140,000 residents in Rafah to evacuate their homes and issued new evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza. A map indicated that Israel has significantly expanded a buffer zone around Gaza during the course of the war, taking control of a corridor of land that cuts through the center of the territory. Israel initiated this renewed offensive on March 18, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new proposal from the United States to extend a ceasefire and release the 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza. In response, Hamas accused Israel of violating the original agreement made in January. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel, which represents the families of many hostages, expressed their horror upon waking up to the news of the expanded military operation. They urged the Israeli government to prioritize securing the release of all hostages still held in Gaza. In his statement regarding the plans to seize more territory, Katz also called on Gazans to take action to remove Hamas and free the remaining Israeli hostages, without providing any specific guidance on how they should do so. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks, with Israel refusing to allow aid into the territory since March 2, marking the longest aid blockade since the conflict began. Last month, the United Nations announced it was reducing its operations in Gaza, following the deaths of eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence first responders, and a UN staff member. The Israeli military launched its campaign to dismantle Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. According to the health ministry run by Hamas, over 50,399 people have died in Gaza during the ongoing conflict.