Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Apr 14: The Israeli military announced on Monday that it had carried out a fresh wave of air and ground strikes across the Gaza Strip, targeting around 35 sites as hostilities continue to intensify.
According to the military, the latest attacks included the destruction of a weapons manufacturing facility in southern Gaza and a rocket launch site prepared to target Israeli territory.
In northern Gaza, troops reported engaging and neutralizing a group of militants who they say were preparing an ambush several hundred metres from Israeli positions. The military said the operation was coordinated with air support, though it did not provide specifics on casualties or the exact location.
In Rafah, located in southern Gaza, Israeli forces destroyed a large underground tunnel system, reportedly stretching several hundred metres and plunging 20 metres deep. According to Israeli officials, the tunnel served as a hub for Hamas fighters and connected multiple other subterranean routes.
Elsewhere, soldiers uncovered a weapons stockpile believed to belong to Hamas, including mortars, grenades, and explosives, according to the statement.
These renewed strikes come amid a tightened blockade. Since March 2, Israel has halted all humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza. On March 18, a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended, prompting a new round of air raids and ground offensives.
Health authorities in Gaza reported that 1,613 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,200 wounded since the resurgence of Israeli attacks. The overall death toll in Gaza since the start of the conflict in October 2023 now stands at 50,983, with more than 116,000 injured.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz last week signaled further expansion of military operations across Gaza. In a public message directed at residents of the enclave, Katz urged civilians to evacuate, hinting at broader offensives in the days ahead.
He also referenced a controversial U.S.-backed relocation initiative for Gaza residents, stating that “voluntary crossings to other countries will also be possible” under the plan Israel is working to facilitate.
“This is the final opportunity to eliminate Hamas, secure the release of Israeli hostages, and bring this war to a close,” Katz declared.