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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his forces were launching a military operation in Gaza to take control of "large areas."
The expanded offensive would "crush and clean the area" of militants, Katz said in a statement on Wednesday morning, "seizing large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel."
The Israeli government has long maintained a buffer zone just inside Gaza along its security fence and has greatly expanded since the war against Hamas began in 2023 following the October 7 attack.
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Katz didn't specify which areas of Gaza would be seized in the expanded operation, which he said includes the "extensive evacuation" of the population from fighting areas.
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'Remove Hamas and Return All the Hostages'
In a statement posted to X, Katz said the goal of the operation "is first and foremost to increase pressure for the release of all the hostages in the face of Hamas' refusal."
"Expanding the operation this morning will increase the pressure on the Hamas murderers and also on the population in Gaza and advance the achievement of the sacred and important goal for all of us," Katz said.
"I call on the residents of Gaza to act now to remove Hamas and return all the hostages. This is the only way to end the war."
The renewed offensive will put even more pressure on a Gazan population pushed to its limits by the war.
"After one year and a half of war that has exhausted everyone, children and their parents, too, are just worn out physically and mentally," said Rosalia Bollen, UNICEF's communication specialist.
Hostage Families 'Horrified' by Israel Katz Statement
Families of the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza criticized the expanded offensive, saying in a statement they were "horrified" by the news.
"Every day that passes puts our loved ones in captivity at greater risk of death at the hands of the murderous terrorist organization Hamas," said the statement from the Bring Them Home Now group.
"Their lives hang in the balance as more and more disturbing details continue to emerge about the horrific conditions they're being held in—chained, abused, and in desperate need of medical attention.
"We call on the Trump Administration and mediating countries to continue exerting pressure on Hamas for the immediate release of our loved ones.
"Our highest priority must be an immediate deal to bring ALL hostages back home—the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for proper burial—and end this war."
Gaza Death Toll
Israel says the buffer zone in Gaza is needed for its security, while Palestinians view it as a land grab that further shrinks the narrow coastal territory, home to around 2 million people.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
Israel's offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, including hundreds killed in strikes since a ceasefire ended about two weeks ago, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants.
Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.
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