Israel threatens to ‘annex’ parts of Gaza amid resumption of Tel Aviv’s genocidal war

The Israeli regime’s minister for military affairs, Israel Katz has threatened to annex portions of the Gaza Strip unless the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas releases the remaining Zionist captives there.

The remarks issued on Friday coincided with Tel Aviv's resumption of a genocidal war that it launched against Gaza in October 2023 in response to a historic resistance operation that had put 240 Zionists in captivity.

The fresh brutal military onslaught that began on Tuesday came while the regime had agreed to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would feature the phased-out release of the captives.

After the first phase of the deal ended, featuring the release of many captives in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners, Tel Aviv, though, began insisting that the movement had to release the rest, namely a reported number of 59 dead and alive captives, in one batch.

Katz said he had ordered the Israeli military to "seize more territory in Gaza,” warning, that the more Hamas “refuses” to free the captives, “the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel."

He further threatened to expand buffer zones around Gaza, potentially leading to a permanent Israeli occupation of these areas.

The resumption of the large-scale military attacks had been coordinated with US President Donald Trump's administration, which has declared its complete support.

The renewed assaults have claimed the lives of around 1,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, marking one of the highest tolls since the war began. The toll came, while the genocidal campaign had already killed roughly 48,000 people.

Israel’s recent strikes killed over 200 kids in Gaza: UNICEF

The United Nations agency for children (UNICEF) says at least 200 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed its genocidal war on the strip on Tuesday.

As part of the fresh genocidal push, the Israeli military has expanded its ground operations, seizing strategic areas such as the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, control over which facilitates its deadly attacks on the central and northern parts of the coastal sliver. Israeli forces have also advanced towards the cities of Beit Lahia and Rafah, respectively in northern and southern Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in the territory has, meanwhile, reached critical levels, with aid distribution almost entirely blockaded on the back of a simultaneous Israeli siege.

‘No migration except to al-Quds’: Hamas reiterates Palestinians rejection of forced displacement

Hamas reiterates Palestinians’ rejection of efforts by the Israeli regime and its most supportive ally, the Unites States, to bring about forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which handles the affairs of Palestinian refugees, has warned that it only had enough flour supplies for a few more days.

Hamas has, however, stood up to Tel Aviv’s efforts at manipulating the deal and imposing its own conditions amid strong speculations that upon receiving the remaining captives, the regime would refuse to stop the genocide and withdraw.

On Wednesday, the movement reiterated its steadfastness, rejecting any attempts at forced expulsion.

"Our Palestinian people will remain steadfast in their land, clinging to their rights, and will thwart all attempts of forced or voluntary displacement," it underscored.

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