Israel's New Offensive: A Clash of Claims and Casualties

Israel has stepped up its military actions in Gaza. On Wednesday, they launched a ground operation in the north. The goal? To retake part of a key corridor that splits the territory. This move comes after a two-month pause in fighting, which Israel has now ended. The corridor in question is called the Netzarim corridor. It runs through the middle of Gaza, from north to south. Israel had pulled back from this area as part of the ceasefire with Hamas. But now, they're back, and they're not holding back. Defense Minister Israel Katz has a warning for Palestinians in Gaza. He says more evacuations and intense attacks are coming. Why? Because Israel wants Hamas to release dozens of hostages they've been holding for over 17 months. The situation is tense, and it's not clear what will happen next. Meanwhile, the United Nations is in the middle of it all. On Wednesday, a U. N. worker was killed, and five others were hurt. This happened when a U. N. guesthouse in Deir al-Balah was hit by a projectile. The U. N. says they had told the Israeli military about the location of their facility. They're asking for answers about why this happened. The Israeli military denies targeting the U. N. compound. But the U. N. says strikes have hit near the compound on Monday and struck it directly on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, when the staffer was killed. They're calling for an investigation into what happened. The fighting has taken a toll on civilians. The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 436 people have been killed since the strikes began on Tuesday. Among them are 183 children and 94 women. Another 678 people have been wounded. The Israeli military says it only targets militants. But the reality on the ground tells a different story. The war in Gaza has been one of the deadliest for humanitarian workers. The U. N. says the resumption of fighting risks plunging the region back into all-out war. It's a complex situation, with no easy solutions in sight. The world is watching, and the stakes are high.