Israel Deepens Gaza Offensive, Targeting Hamas in Southern Strip
Ten weeks into the Israeli ground offensive in northern Gaza, the military is ramping up operations to cover the entire Palestinian territory. Daniel Hagari, the army spokesperson, announced on Sunday evening that soldiers were directly confronting Hamas terrorists and eliminating them.
The tactics in the southern part of Gaza would mirror those used in the north, stated Herzi Halevi, the Chief of General Staff. The troops had fought relentlessly in the northern Gaza Strip and were now prepared to do the same in the south.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered the evacuation of certain areas in the greater Khan Yunis region on Sunday. Khan Yunis is known as a Hamas stronghold, and the residents were urged to take shelter to the west of the city. Additionally, Palestinians were urged to move further south towards Rafah, situated near the Egypt border.
On Saturday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, revealed that safe areas for the civilian population were being designed in cooperation with the United States and international organizations.
Additional Information:
- Ceasefire Negotiations: Israel and Hamas are in the initial stages of a ceasefire agreement's second phase, which includes the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of covering Israeli Defense Forces troops from Gaza.
- Conditions for Phase Two: Israel has imposed conditions for the second phase, such as the disarmament of Hamas and its exit from Gaza, as well as preventing the Palestinian Authority from managing the enclave post-war.
- Ready for Potential Conflict: Israeli forces have prepared for a possible resumption of fighting by amassing troops and equipment along the Gaza border, expressing concerns about the safety of hostages in the event of a breakdown in negotiations.
- Hamas's Position: Hamas proposed to release all hostages simultaneously during the second phase, aiming to forestall Israel's resumption of fighting and prioritize its survival.
- International Responses: The Trump administration's proposition to assume control of Gaza has been met with widespread opposition by Arab states and other nations, citing the forced-out of Palestinians and abandonment of the two-state solution as reasons to reject the proposal.
In relation to this conflict, Facebook is exploring a new method of distributing breaking news articles, which potentially includes highlighting the Gaza Strip clash in its Instant Articles feature.
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