Israel Launches New Ground Operation in Gaza Following Airstrikes

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza, as airstrikes on the second consecutive day resulted in at least 48 Palestinian deaths.

These renewed operations followed a day in which over 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes, marking one of the deadliest incidents since the conflict began in October 2023 and effectively ending a ceasefire that had largely held since January.

According to the Israeli military, the operation expanded Israel’s control over the Netzarim Corridor, a route that cuts through Gaza, with the stated aim of establishing a partial buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of the enclave.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the incursion into the Netzarim Corridor, calling it a serious violation of the two-month-old ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the truce and urged mediators to take action.

The United Nations reported that a strike on a UN site in central Gaza City killed a foreign staff member and injured five workers on Wednesday.

Gaza’s health ministry attributed the strike to Israel, but Israel denied responsibility, stating it had targeted a Hamas site where it had detected preparations for launching attacks into Israeli territory.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, stated, “Israel knew that this was a UN premises, that people were living, staying, and working there. It is a compound. It is a very well-known place.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned all attacks on UN personnel and called for a thorough investigation.

In a statement, Guterres noted that this latest strike had brought the total number of UN personnel killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to at least 280.