Israel to seize parts of Gaza as military operation expands

Israel announced a major expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying large areas of the enclave would be seized and added to its security zones, accompanied by large-scale evacuations of the population.

- Reuters

JERUSALEM:

In a statement, Defence Minister Israel Katz said evacuations would take place from areas where there was fighting, while urging Gazans to eliminate Hamas and return Israeli hostages as the only way to end the war.

He said the operation would clear out militants and infrastructure "and seize large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel".

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters Israeli hostages would only be released through negotiations, not via military pressure.

The Israeli military had already issued evacuation warnings to Gazans living around the southern city of Rafah and towards the city of Khan Younis, telling them to move to the Al-Mawasi area on the shore, previously designated a humanitarian zone.

Gaza's Health Ministry said 41 people were killed in Israeli strikes, on Wednesday, with 19 people including children killed in a strike at a UN clinic being used to house displaced people.