Israel will be expanding its ground offensive and seizing large swathes of Palestinian land, defence minister Israel Katz said, as airstrikes continued to target people killing at least 21 since dawn on Wednesday. Â
Katz said Israel will “capture extensive territory” and that the widening assault “will increase pressure on Hamas murderers and also on the population in Gaza and advance the achievement of the sacred and important goal for all of us”.
He called on Gaza residents to “act now to remove Hamas and return all the hostages”.
The comments comes a day after an Israeli official told reporters that Israel is planning on expanding the ground offensive and occupying 25 percent of the Strip into the next two to three weeks, Axios revealed.
The official further said that the Israeli army’s plan is to broaden the buffer zone controlled by the Israeli army close to the border with Israel.
Families of the captives held in Gaza have denounced the move, saying they are “horrified” by Katz’s plan. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum asked why lives of the captives were being put at risk for territorial gains.
This comes as Israel has ramped up attacks, with deadly bombing targeting areas across the Strip, including Khan Younis and many parts of the north.
Bakeries shutter
Since Israel violated the truce deal, the military has been issuing displacement orders for civilians, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee on foot.
“Gaza continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world,” a statement from the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said on X.
An accompanying video to the post included footage of Israeli forces shooting at fleeing civilians in Rafah and testimonies from civilians.
Meanwhile in Gaza, 25 bakeries have shuttered due to Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has surpassed a month.
Many of the bakeries have closed due to a lack of flour and gas, leaving residents with scarce amounts of food.
The head of the Bakery Owners Association, Abdel Nasser al-Ajrami, said all bakeries in Gaza closed on Tuesday due to the severe shortages.
According to UN food agencies, supplies built during the short ceasefire are now running out and Gaza has lost almost all its food production capabilities.
The closure of the bakeries has sparked alarm in the Strip, with many Palestinians wondering if and when the next batch of food aid and humanitarian assistance will enter the enclave.
Palestine’s Civil Defence warned the Strip is now “on the verge of entering a famine”. However, Israel maintained that there is enough supplies to last people in the Strip, suggesting Hamas is withholding it.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 61,700 Palestinians, with the actual toll expected to be much higher,  Gaza’s government media office said.
