The Israeli military is widening its offensive in the Gaza Strip, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued statements about negotiating a deal with Hamas that could halt the campaign.
In a video statement recorded outside a military base in southern Israel, Mr. Netanyahu said he had approved plans for taking over Gaza City, but also that he had “given directives to negotiate immediately the release of all our hostages and to end the war on terms acceptable to Israel.”
The prime minister did not directly comment on how Israel would respond to a new cease-fire proposal that Hamas said it accepted earlier this week.
Israeli officials said that ground forces were already operating in Zeitoun, a neighborhood in the southern part of the city, but when the military might launch a broader assault was still unclear.
The possibility of Israeli soldiers moving into neighborhoods other than Zeitoun in Gaza City has raised alarm among Palestinians who have been repeatedly displaced since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that ignited the war.
Some people have said they would follow Israeli evacuation orders, while others have said they will remain in their homes, even if doing so would risk their lives. On Thursday, scores of Palestinians participated in a protest in Gaza City, demanding an end to the war.
The post Israel Is Expanding Its Gaza City Operation, but Where Does It Stand? appeared first on New York Times.
