Israel has expanded the ground war front to central Gaza.
On the 20th (local time), the Israel Defense Forces issued an order for residents and displaced persons in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza to evacuate immediately to the Al-Mawasi area on the southern coast.
This is the first time since the outbreak of the war that the Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for this area. It is home to several international relief organization offices.
On the same day, at least 79 residents trying to receive relief supplies were killed due to gunfire from the Israeli military in northern Gaza.
The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that a total of 85 Palestinian residents died while waiting for relief supplies that day, marking it as 'the deadliest day for those seeking relief supplies' since the outbreak of the war.
The Israeli military claimed that the expansion of ground operations is a means of pressing Hamas.
However, families of hostages held in Gaza expressed concerns that military operations could threaten the safety of the hostages. They demanded that the Israeli government 'explain the operation plans and measures for hostage protection.'
The Israeli military also announced that it expanded operations in northern Gaza's Jabalia the same day, destroying underground tunnels and killing dozens of Hamas members.
Eyal Zamir, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, who inspected the front lines, stated, 'We will introduce a new form of operation that will inflict more serious pain on Hamas while reducing our military losses.'
According to the Associated Press, as the war enters its 22nd month, the cumulative death toll in Gaza has surpassed 58,700.