فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that the army is continuing to dismember the Gaza Strip and seize control of new areas in the Palestinian territories, aiming to force Hamas to release the hostages held by them.
Simultaneously, Israel continues its relentless bombardment of the Strip, resulting in the death of over 30 people, including children, according to local rescue teams.
After a two-month truce, Israel resumed its military offensive on March 18, asserting that escalating military pressure is the only way to secure the release of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, of whom 34 are believed to have died, according to the Israeli army.
Netanyahu and Katz Statements
“We are dismembering the Gaza Strip and increasing the pressure step by step, so that they return our hostages,” Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video. “The army is seizing territories, striking terrorists, and destroying infrastructure.”
For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the operation aims to “cleanse the area of terrorists” and incorporate parts of Gaza into Israeli security zones. He also called on Gaza residents to “act against Hamas and return the hostages.”
Pressures and Protests
The Hostage Families Forum, the main association representing relatives of the captives, reacted angrily, considering that the government prioritizes the military offensive over negotiating an agreement.
In an open letter, about 50 released hostages and their relatives warned against “the dangers that military pressure poses to the lives of the hostages.”
Casualty Toll
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the death of about 1,400 people, mostly Israeli soldiers on active duty or reservists.
Israel responded by launching a massive offensive on Gaza, resulting in the death of over 50,423 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
On Wednesday, at least 34 Palestinians were killed, including 19 people, nine of whom were children, in an attack on an UNRWA health center in Jabalia.
The Israeli army confirmed the attack, claiming it targeted “Hamas terrorists.”
Humanitarian Crisis and International Tensions
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his “shock” at the Israeli attacks that killed 15 aid workers in Gaza.
Since March 2, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, leading to a worsening food shortage.
“The situation is very difficult: there is no more flour, no more bread, no more food, and no water,” said Mahmoud Sheikh Khalil, a father of a family in Gaza.
In a tense political context, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked outrage in the Arab world by visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
