Israel resumes ground operation in Gaza

The Israeli military said Wednesday its forces have resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, as a second day of airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians, according to local health workers.

The renewed ground operations come a day after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in one of the deadliest episodes since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, shattering a ceasefire that has largely held since January.

The Israeli military said its operations have extended Israel's control over the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects Gaza, and were a "focused" manoeuvre aimed at creating a partial buffer zone between the north and the south of the enclave.

Palestinian resistance group Hamas said the ground operation and the incursion into the Netzarim Corridor were a "new and dangerous violation" of the two-month-old ceasefire agreement. In a statement, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the deal and called on mediators to "assume their responsibilities".

The United Nations said an Israeli airstrike had killed a foreign staffer and wounded five workers at the site of a UN headquarters in central Gaza City Wednesday. But Israel denied this.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation and condemned all attacks on UN personnel.

In Sofia, the foreign ministry said a Bulgarian working for the UN died on Wednesday in Gaza, citing preliminary information.

Israel, which has vowed to eradicate Hamas, said its latest onslaught was "just the beginning".

In the latest violence, local health workers said an Israeli airstrike killed four people and wounded 10 others in a house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, where the army renewed evacuation orders to residents earlier on Wednesday.

In Beit Lahiya, a new Israeli airstrike killed 14 people at a mourning tent, medics said.

Earlier Wednesday, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, once again ordering residents to evacuate their homes.

Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a video statement warning Gaza residents that evacuation from combat zones would begin shortly.

He said airstrikes were "only the first step" and if the hostages were not released, "Israel will act with force you have not yet seen".

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday she told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that the situation in Gaza was "unacceptable".

Jordan's King Abdullah called for the ceasefire to be restored and for aid flows to resume.