Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza as pressure builds on Hamas and humanitarian crisis deepens

Israel has launched a renewed and intensified ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, declaring its intention to seize broad swaths of the enclave in an effort to bring Hamas to its knees, more than 19 months into a devastating war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested on Monday that Israeli forces could take effective control of the entire Gaza Strip, although it remains unclear whether that statement signals a full-scale reoccupation or a pressure tactic in ongoing cease-fire negotiations, the New York Times reported.

The announcement comes amid new efforts by the Trump administration to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas. Some analysts believe the timing of the military escalation may be aimed at extracting concessions from Hamas during these negotiations.

Israeli troops launch new operations but hold back full invasion

On Sunday, the Israeli military declared the start of “extensive ground operations” throughout the Gaza Strip, with soldiers from five divisions deployed in what it says is a strategic push to carve Gaza into separate zones. However, satellite imagery and limited on-the-ground details indicate that troop movements remain largely confined to areas near the Israeli border.

Despite the public threats of a full-scale advance, the long-anticipated deep push into major urban centres like Gaza City and Khan Younis has not yet materialized.

Military officials said they were intentionally withholding operational details to protect Israeli forces. “Ambiguity is part of our strategy,” said Effie Defrin, chief spokesman for the Israeli military.

Death toll continues to mount

In the lead-up to the ground offensive, Israel has intensified aerial bombardments, killing more than 400 people since last Thursday, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, reports that more than 53,000 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage.

One recent Israeli strike near the European Hospital in Khan Younis reportedly targeted Muhammad Sinwar, a top Hamas commander, though his fate remains unconfirmed. Israeli officials maintain they are using “precise munitions” and issue warnings ahead of some strikes, though the near-constant explosions described by Gaza residents tell a grim story of urban devastation.

Aid resumes, but not nearly enough

After more than two months of blocking humanitarian shipments, Israel announced on Sunday night that it would allow a limited amount of food to enter Gaza. On Monday, five aid trucks reportedly crossed into the territory. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s lead humanitarian coordinator, welcomed the development but called it “a drop in the ocean.”

The blockade has led to severe hunger, with growing reports of child malnutrition and warnings from aid agencies that Gaza is on the brink of famine. Netanyahu acknowledged the pressure in a statement, noting that allowing minimal aid was crucial to maintaining international support: “If Gazans starve, we lose backing, and we won’t be able to complete our victory.”

Palestinians face renewed displacement

Most of Gaza’s population — roughly 2 million people — has been displaced at least once during the war. As Israel signalled a new offensive, civilians again began fleeing towns near the front lines.

On Monday, the military issued evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis. In the town of Abasan, Suzanne Abu Daqqa said she feared being forced into a tent camp along the enclave’s crowded coastline. “If they tell us ‘leave’ — that will be a great catastrophe,” she said. On Tuesday, Israel warned Abasan residents to evacuate or face “an unprecedented attack.”

With military pressure mounting, casualties rising, and humanitarian conditions worsening, the coming days are expected to test the durability of US-brokered negotiations — and the limits of Gaza’s already devastated civilian population.