Israel announced on Wednesday that it has converted 30% of Gaza into a buffer zone as part of its ongoing military offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated the country’s commitment to maintain the blockade on humanitarian aid to the besieged territory, which has been severely impacted by the conflict.
The Israeli military resumed air and ground attacks on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire, prompting the United Nations to estimate that around 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced since then. This situation has led to a humanitarian crisis deemed the worst since the onset of hostilities following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
According to the Israeli military, they have attained “full operational control” over key areas within the Gaza Strip, designating approximately 30% of the territory as an Operational Security Perimeter. They reported conducting airstrikes on around 1,200 terror targets and carrying out more than 100 targeted eliminations since March 18. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the military’s actions have rendered Gaza “smaller and more isolated.”
As for the hostages situation, Netanyahu has ordered security officials to continue negotiations for the release of 58 individuals still held by Hamas. On the same day, Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad released a video featuring Rom Braslavski, an Israeli-German hostage urging for his release from captivity. Braslavski was kidnapped during the Hamas attack at the Nova music festival.
Hamas indicated that Israel has proposed a new 45-day ceasefire through mediators, which would include the release of several hostages. However, the negotiation conditions also stipulate that Hamas disarm to facilitate a complete end to the war, a point that a senior official, Mahmoud Mardawi, has indicated they are not willing to concede.
Defense Minister Katz announced that Israel will continue preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, exacerbating the existing crisis. He posited that blocking aid is a critical strategy to pressure Hamas. In light of the military operations and blockade, Doctors Without Borders has declared that Gaza has effectively become a “mass grave” for Palestinians.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs corroborated reports stating that about half a million people have been newly displaced since March 18, further highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis.
On April 28, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to hold hearings regarding Israel’s humanitarian obligations to the Palestinian population. This follows a UN General Assembly resolution requesting the court to provide an advisory opinion on Israel’s responsibilities to ensure the unhindered provision of essential supplies to civilian populations in Gaza.
As the military actions continue, recent airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in at least 11 fatalities, with reports indicating that a total of 1,652 individuals have died in Gaza since the resumption of fighting, contributing to a cumulative civilian death toll of 51,025 since the conflict escalated in October. Meanwhile, the conflict has also claimed 1,218 lives in Israel, mostly among civilians, according to official figures.
