Israeli troops advanced into northern Gaza on Friday, expanding what they call a security zone along the enclave’s edge, the military announced. This comes days after the government revealed plans to seize more land with a major operation in the south.
The military said its forces were operating in Shejaia, east of Gaza City, and were facilitating civilian evacuations through designated routes. Hundreds of residents fled on Thursday following Israeli evacuation warnings, some on foot, others using donkey carts, bicycles, and vans.
Gaza health officials reported that at least 27 people, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families. The military claimed the Dar Al-Arqam school in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood was being used as a Hamas command center, an allegation Hamas denies.
Amid one of the war’s largest mass displacements, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee as Israeli forces expand their control. In the south, troops are consolidating positions around the ruins of Rafah.
Israel has not clarified its long-term plans for the seized areas, but many Palestinians fear a permanent displacement, including the loss of farmland and key water infrastructure. The military said it has killed numerous militants and dismantled Hamas operations.
Since resuming operations on March 18 after a two-month truce, Israeli officials insist the offensive will continue until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it still holds. Hamas, in turn, says it will only free them under a deal that ends the war permanently.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel has devastated much of Gaza, with over 50,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s health authorities.