Israel-Gaza war: Netzarim Corridor taken as Gaza Strip split in half, IDF launch new ground operation

Israel has retaken the Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip, splitting the Palestinian territory in half, as the United States warn the window for extending a ceasefire is “closing fast”.

The development comes as the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launch a ground operation, the first since the initial ceasefire was agreed to, after a second day of air strikes killed at least 38 Palestinians.

The IDF shared a video of ground operations in central and southern Gaza, saying: “The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organisations in Gaza to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

A US State department spokesperson told Reuters: “Right now, we still have a bridge proposal on the table that would extend the ceasefire and see the release of five live hostages, including American Edan Alexander.”

“It would also see the release of a substantial number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

“The opportunity is still there, but it’s closing fast”.

The renewed ground operations come a day after more than 400 Palestinians were reportedly killed in air strikes, 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 the Gaza Strip, and were a “focused” manoeuvre aimed at creating a partial buffer zone between the north and the south of the enclave.

Palestinian militant 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 air strike had killed a foreign staffer and wounded five workers at the site of a UN headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday.

But Israel denied this, saying it had hit a Hamas site where it had detected preparations for firing into Israeli territory.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, said: “Israel knew that this was a UN premises, that people were living, staying and working there, it is a compound. It is a very well-known place.”

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

In a statement, he said the strike brought to at least 280 the number of UN colleagues killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

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

It was not immediately clear if the Bulgarian was the foreign UN staffer killed.