GUWAHATI: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new ground offensive in central and southern Gaza on Wednesday, regaining control of a critical land corridor. This follows a series of heavy aerial bombardments conducted by Israel on Gaza the previous day, which reportedly killed over 400 people and broke a two-month-old ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
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The IDF confirmed that its troops had initiated targeted ground operations aimed at expanding the security zone and creating a buffer between northern and southern Gaza. This move is part of Israel’s broader strategy to secure its borders and weaken Hamas’s presence in the region.
Simultaneously, the IDF announced the deployment of its elite Golani Brigade to the southern Gaza border, positioning them in preparation for potential operations inside the strip. The IDF stated that it would continue to operate against terrorist organisations in Gaza to protect Israeli citizens.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a "last warning" to Gaza's residents, urging them to follow the advice of US President Donald Trump. He called on them to remove Hamas from the strip and release hostages, warning that failure to comply would lead to further action. "This is the last warning," Katz declared. "Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you – including the possibility of relocation for those who want to leave."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the resumption of military operations, asserting that the conflict would continue until Hamas’s governing authority and military infrastructure were completely dismantled. He emphasised that Israel would not stop until the threat from Hamas was eliminated.