Renewed Israeli Military Offensive Deepens Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis
The Israeli military announced Wednesday that its forces have resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza, amid a surge in violence that has claimed at least 38 Palestinian lives in a second day of airstrikes, according to local health workers.
The renewed ground assault follows a devastating day in which more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes—one of the deadliest episodes since the conflict erupted in October 2023—and has shattered a ceasefire that had largely held since January. According to the military, the latest operations have extended Israel’s control over the Netzarim Corridor, a key passage bisecting Gaza. This maneuver is described as “focused” and aimed at creating a partial buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of the enclave.
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In a separate development, the United Nations reported that an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday killed a foreign staffer and wounded five workers at the UN headquarters in central Gaza City. Israel denied these claims, asserting that the strike targeted a Hamas site where preparations were underway for firing into Israeli territory. Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, contended, “Israel knew that this was a UN premises… a compound where people lived, stayed, and worked.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation and condemned the attack, noting that it brought the total number of UN personnel killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to at least 280.
Amid the latest escalation, Palestinian medics reported that an Israeli tank shelling on the Salahuddin Road, a critical north-south artery in Gaza, killed one Palestinian and injured several others. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua described the closure of the Salahuddin Road as a “total coup” against the ceasefire agreement and a tightening of Gaza’s blockade.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army dropped leaflets across northern and southern Gaza, urging residents to evacuate their homes as defensive measures intensified. Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a video statement warning Gaza residents that evacuations from combat zones would commence soon, adding that the ongoing airstrikes were “only the first step” and that if the hostages were not released, “Israel will act with force you have not yet seen.”
