Photo:Stoyan Nenov / Reuters
On 29 March, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, the Israeli military’s press service reported.
Israeli troops entered the Al-Janinah area, where they destroyed a number of strategic facilities used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.
In parallel with the ground operation, the IDF is conducting air strikes against terrorist positions throughout Gaza.
In recent days, weapons depots, rocket launchers, military fortifications and auxiliary infrastructure of Hamas have been destroyed. As a result of the attacks, dozens of militants were killed, including those who fired mortars at Israel.
Conflict escalation: attacks from Yemen and Gaza
On 24 March, Israel suffered three attacks from the Gaza Strip and Yemen. However, according to the IDF, all the rockets were intercepted.
The hostage situation: will Hamas comply with the agreements?
On 19 January, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force.
Hamas pledged to release 33 Israeli hostages in seven weeks, but as of 15 March, only 24 had been returned.
In response, Israel agreed to release 1,904 Palestinian prisoners, 737 of whom were serving sentences for terrorist activities.
Will the new military operation affect the process of releasing hostages? And how will the international community respond to the escalation in the region?
