GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Israel announced renewed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a “last warning” to residents of the Palestinian territory to
Israel announced renewed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a “last warning” to residents of the Palestinian territory to return hostages and remove Hamas from power.
Israel conducted this week the deadliest wave of air strikes since the start of a truce in January, killing hundreds of people according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
The military said it had “begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south”.
As Israel kept up its renewed bombardment despite a chorus of calls from foreign governments to preserve the ceasefire, long lines of fleeing civilians filled the roads of Gaza on Wednesday.
Families with young children fled northern Gaza for areas further south, fearing for their lives after Israel urged civilians to leave areas it described as “combat zones”.
Fred Oola, senior medical officer at the Red Cross’ field hospital in Rafah, said the renewed strikes had shattered the relative calm of the past two months.
“Now, we can feel the panic in the air… and we can see the pain and devastation in the faces of those we are helping,” he said in a statement.
Addressing the “residents of Gaza”—ruled by Hamas since 2007—Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a video statement that “this is the last warning”.
“Take the advice of the president of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you–including the possibility of leaving for other places in the world for those who want to.”
He was referring to a warning earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, who said: “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages.
