Israel begins its first major ground assault in central Gaza
Photo: The IDF will begin ground military operations in central Gaza for the first time (Getty Images)
The IDF has announced the start of ground operations in Deir al-Balah, one of the few areas in central Gaza. Until now, the army had not carried out a ground offensive there, according to The Times of Israel.
The military has ordered civilians to evacuate the southwestern part of the city as it prepares to expand combat operations.
"The IDF continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy’s capabilities and terror infrastructure in the area, as it expands its activities into an area where it has not operated before," said IDF spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee.
The decision to launch an offensive in Deir al-Balah comes amid ongoing ceasefire talks in Qatar, where Israel accuses Hamas of stalling its response to proposals.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters in Tel Aviv are demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Deir al-Balah has long been under the control of militants, who, according to Israeli military estimates, are holding captives in the area.
Airstrikes on Hamas
Despite this, the army has avoided ground operations in the zone out of concern for the lives of the hostages.
At the same time, Israeli air forces continue to carry out airstrikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip.
In recent days, more than 2.7 kilometers of underground tunnels used by militants for movement and attacks have been destroyed.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, about 100 Palestinians have been killed and more than 500 injured in the latest fighting.
The Israeli side emphasizes efforts to minimize civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
The conflict has been ongoing since October 2023. During this time, the total number of civilian and military casualties on both sides has exceeded tens of thousands.
Pressure on Israel
It should be noted that pressure on Israel has been mounting in recent weeks to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
In particular, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that if a ceasefire is not reached soon in the enclave, the country will take further measures against Israel.
Additionally, Euractiv has reported that the EU is preparing to present its member states with options for sanctions against Israel. These restrictions are being considered due to alleged human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.
