New footage shows Israeli forces continuing operations inside Gaza as the war against Hamas terrorists intensifies after the ceasefire collapsed last week. The video shows Israel Defense Forces (IDF) supported by tanks and bulldozers inside the Palestinian enclave as ground movements continue in the north of the territory.
A spokesperson for the IDF said: “Yesterday (Saturday), IDF troops began operating in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. The purpose of the operation is to target Hamas’ terror infrastructure sites in order to expand the security zone in northern Gaza. The IDF is allowing civilians to evacuate the combat zone for their safety. During the operation, fighter jets struck several Hamas targets and terror infrastructure sites in the area. The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, in order to protect Israeli civilians.”
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 19 Palestinians overnight, including a Hamas political leader and several women and children.
Residents said tanks had advanced into an area of the southern city of Rafah as the military ordered it evacuated.
The military ordered people to leave the already heavily destroyed Tel al-Sultan neighborhood on foot along a single route to Mawasi.
Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last week when it launched a surprise wave of airstrikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians.
Late Saturday, Israel‘s Cabinet approved a proposal to set up a new directorate tasked with advancing the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians in line with US President Donald Trump‘s proposal to depopulate Gaza and rebuild it for others.
Palestinian groups say they do not want to leave the land, and rights groups have said the plan could amount to expulsion in violation of international law.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the new body would be “subject to Israeli and international law” and coordinate “passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries.”
The ceasefire that took hold in January paused 15 months of heavy fighting ignited by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack into Israel.
The two sides were supposed to begin negotiations in early February on the next phase of the truce, in which Hamas was to release the remaining 59 hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.