The Israeli military announced that it had launched "targeted ground operations" in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip today, a day after heavy air strikes on the Palestinian territory.
The army "took control and expanded it to the center" of the "Netzarim" corridor, with the aim of "expanding the security zone and partially separating the north and south" of Gaza, the statement said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a "final warning" to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip today, demanding that they release Israelis they have been holding hostage for a year and a half and "liberate" themselves from the Palestinian Hamas movement, his office said.
"Unless all Israeli hostages are released and Hamas is completely removed from Gaza, Israel will take measures of unprecedented proportions. We advise you to heed the advice of the American president: Release the hostages and get rid of Hamas," Katz said in a video in Hebrew released by his office.
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