Israel launches new “limited ground operation” of Gaza after deadly air strikes
- 19 March, 16:14
Israel said on Wednesday it launched a “limited ground operation” to recapture a key corridor that bisects Gaza, while its defense minister pledged that attacks would intensify until Hamas militants free dozens of hostages and give up control of Gaza.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it captured part of the Netzarim corridor that connects northern Gaza to south and had been used as a military zone by Israeli forces. Israel had withdrawn from the corridor as part of the peace deal in January.
The recapture of the corridor is a major escalation of war in Gaza and came a day after Israel launched massive airstrikes on the territory, killing over 400 people, including 183 children and 94 women, the health ministry there said. The airstrikes were the deadliest attack on Gaza in the 17-month war, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, the head of Gaza Health Ministry’s records department.
Meanwhile, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said the military would soon order Palestinians to evacuate from combat zones. Katz also said that Tuesday’s deadly aerial bombardment “was just the first step” in Israel’s efforts to ratchet up the pressure on Hamas militant group and pledged that Israel will attack “with an intensity that you have not known” until Hamas releases the remaining Israeli hostages and gives up control of Gaza.
