GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — Gaza rescue teams and medics said Israeli air strikes killed at least 55 people on Thursday, as the military threatened an even larger offensive if hostages were not freed soon.
Israel resumed its military assault in the Gaza Strip on 18 March, after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire that had brought a temporary halt to fighting in the blockaded Palestinian territory.
Israel’s army chief, visiting troops in Gaza on Thursday, threatened to expand the offensive in Gaza if hostages seized during Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel were not released.
“If we do not see progress in the return of the hostages in the near future, we will expand our activities to a larger and more significant operation,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said.
The warning came as the army issued fresh evacuation orders for northern areas of Gaza ahead of a planned attack.
“Due to ongoing terrorist activities and sniper fire against IDF troops in the area, the IDF is intensely operating in the area,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X.