Israel announces ground operations, issues ‘last warning’ to Gazans

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Israel announced renewed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a “last warning” to residents of the territory to return hostages and remove Hamas from power.

“Over the past 24 hours, IDF (military) forces have begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south of the Strip,” the army said in a statement.

“Residents of Gaza, this is the last warning,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

“Take the advice of the president of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you -- including the possibility of leaving for other places in the world for those who want to.”

He was referring to a warning earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, who said: “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”

Long lines of fleeing civilians filled the roads of Gaza on Wednesday as Israel kept up its renewed bombardment despite a chorus of calls from foreign governments to preserve the ceasefire.

Families with young children fled northern Gaza for areas further south, fearing for their lives after Israel urged civilians to leave areas it described as “combat zones”.

Hamas, meanwhile said it remained open to negotiations while calling for pressure on Israel on Wednesday to implement a Gaza truce after its deadliest bombing since the fragile ceasefire began in January.

The United Nations and countries around the world condemned the high civilian death toll in the renewed strikes, which have killed more than 400 people, according to Hamas-run territory´s health ministry.

Hamas is open to talks on getting the ceasefire back on track but will not renegotiate the agreement that took effect on January 19, an official from the militant group said.

“Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations but we insist there is no need for new agreements,” Taher al-Nunu told AFP.

“We have no conditions, but we demand that the occupation be compelled to immediately halt its aggression and war of extermination, and begin the second phase of negotiations.”

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said that one of its workers was killed on Wednesday when an explosive was “dropped or fired” on its building in the central Gaza Strip.

In a statement titled “UNOPS colleague killed at UNOPS premises in Gaza”, the agency said: “An explosive ordnance was dropped or fired at the infrastructure and detonated inside the building” in Deir el-Balah city.

It added that “there is no confirmation at this stage as to the nature of the incident”, which also injured five people, or of the type of ordnance.