The Israeli army has announced the initiation of a ‘limited ground operation’ in the north of Gaza to seize part of a corridor dividing the Gaza Strip in two.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the attacks would be of an ‘unprecedented intensity.’ Gallant also warned that the attacks would escalate further if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages. The Israeli army also disclosed that they have reoccupied a section of the Netzarim corridor from which they withdrew in January under the ceasefire with Hamas. The army claimed to have targeted Hamas-owned facilities in the new attacks, including a battalion command center.

AT LEAST 436 PEOPLE KILLED IN LATEST ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that at least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, have lost their lives in the attacks launched by Israel yesterday morning. In its latest update on Wednesday, March 19, the Ministry noted that the death toll from the conflict with Israel had doubled. Following an escalation in Israel’s deadly attacks on the region, 970 people have perished in the last 48 hours.

ATTACKS THAT TERMINATED THE CEASEFIRE The Israeli army resumed violent attacks in the Gaza Strip yesterday morning after the ceasefire that took effect on January 19. Hamas leaders accused Israel of not keeping its promises and resuming genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by failing to fulfill its responsibilities in front of mediation countries. Families of Israeli captives in Gaza also blamed the Netanyahu government for breaking the ceasefire by “giving up on the prisoners.” Opposition parties in Israel also point out that the attacks coincide with controversial political moves by Prime Minister Netanyahu, such as the dismissal of the head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet.