The defense minister said Israel expanded its military efforts in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Katz Israel in Jerusalem on October 7, 2024.

Ahmed Galabri | AFP | NebraskaDailyNews

Israeli Defense Minister Katz announced a major expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying it would seize large swathes of the enclave and add it to Israel’s security zone.

Katz said in a statement that the mass evacuation of populations in combat areas and urged the Gazas to eliminate Hamas and bring Israel hostages to the only way to end the war.

However, he did not specify how much land Israel intends to capture.

It has established an important buffer zone in Gaza, expanding the area that exists around the edge of the pre-war enclave and adding large security areas in the so-called Netzarim corridor in the middle of Gaza through Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli leaders said they plan to promote Palestinians to voluntarily leave the enclave after U.S. President Donald Trump calls for permanent evacuation and redevelopment into a coastal resort under U.S. control.

Israel resumed air strikes in Gaza and sent ground forces this month to allow Hamas to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons after a relatively calm two months after the end of a U.S.-backed truce.

The efforts led by Kathari and Egyptian mediators are aimed at returning to the orbital negotiations aimed at ending the war, but have not yet made progress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the imposition of military pressure is the best way to restore hostages to the remaining 59 people.

(tagstotranslate) Palestine T Gaza T Israel – Hamas War T Hamas Ceasefire Fire Armed Forces War T War T Business News