The Israeli military said on March 19 its forces re-extended their control to the centre of the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the Gaza Strip.
The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on January 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners.
However, Israel said on March 19 its forces resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. It also announced a major expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying large areas of the enclave would be seized and added to its security zones, accompanied by large-scale evacuations of the population.
Phase 2 of the three-phase deal is intended to focus on agreements on the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas says any proposals must allow the launch of the second phase, while Israel has offered to expand the first 42-day phase.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say.
Israel began its offensive after thousands of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
**Reuters**