Israel to 'seize more ground' as it threatens to annex parts of Gaza

Israel's defence minister said yesterday he had instructed the military to "seize more ground" in Gaza and threatened to annex part of the territory unless Hamas released 59 Israeli hostages still held by the Islamist militant group in the devastated territory.

- Lorenzo Tondo and Jason Burke

Israel Katz's warning came as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensified the new offensive launched on Tuesday, when a wave of airstrikes shattered the truce that had brought a fragile and relative calm since mid-January.

Further "nonstop" attacks took place overnight across much of Gaza.

"It's all day and all night. Drones, planes, artillery, tanks... all the time. It's as bad as it's ever been," said one aid worker, who is now based in Gaza City.

After retaking part of the strategic Netzarim corridor that divides Gaza's north from south, Israeli troops have advanced towards the northern town of Beit Lahiya and into the southern border city of Rafah.

Israeli officials have escalated their threats in recent days, calling on Palestinians in Gaza to overthrow Hamas or face the consequences.

"I ordered [the army] to seize more territory in Gaza," Katz said in a statement. "The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel."

Katz also threatened "to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area", should Hamas not comply.