Al Jazeera reported that the Zionist regime’s operation aims to compel Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal and release the Israeli captives.

Rafah has been the focus of Israel’s latest attacks, alongside some parts of Khan Younis.

One of the attacks there targeted a residential building packed full of civilians. Palestinian Civil Defense said 15 Palestinians were killed in that strike and that the morgues of both the Nasser Hospital and the European Hospital are overwhelmed with bodies.

The Israeli troops are also continuing to forcibly displace residents from the Jabal al-Salihin area in the Nur Shams refugee camp. At least 13 people have been killed during Israel’s ongoing siege on the two camps and the city since the end of January.

While Israel has expanded its ground assault on Gaza, the Zionist regime’s Katz said the regime will “capture extensive territory” to be added to “buffer zones” in the Strip.

The announcement came as the death toll from Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza has risen to at least 21 since dawn. At least 1,042 Palestinians have been killed since Israel broke the truce.

All bakeries in Gaza –including 25 run by the World Food Programme– have shut down as Israel’s blockade on the Strip continues for a 31st day, the longest siege since the war began.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 50,399 Palestinians are confirmed dead and 114,583 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023. The Government Media Office updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead.