Palestinians examine the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on March 20, 2025. Reuters
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday a major expansion of the military operation in Gaza. The plan includes seizing large areas of land and incorporating them into Israel’s security zones.
According to the statement, a large-scale evacuation of Gaza’s population from combat zones will also take place. However, no specific details were provided about how or when this will happen.
Katz said the military aims to “crush and clear the area of terrorists and terror infrastructure.” He emphasized that Israel will take control of significant parts of the territory as part of its security strategy.
On Tuesday night, the Israeli military’s Arabic media spokesperson instructed residents in southern Gaza’s Rafah region to leave their homes and move north. This order has raised concerns among humanitarian groups, as Rafah has been one of the last places where displaced Palestinians have sought shelter.
Last month, reports indicated that Israel was planning a major ground offensive in Gaza. Sources revealed that tens of thousands of Israeli troops could be deployed to clear and occupy large portions of the territory.
Katz’s latest statement did not confirm if additional troops would be involved in the expanded military operation. However, the announcement signals an intensified phase of the conflict.
