Middle East crisis live: Israeli minister orders army to ‘seize more ground’ in Gaza and threatens partial annexation

Hamas stated on Friday that discussions are ongoing concerning a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside other initiatives. The objective is to secure a prisoner release agreement, cease hostilities in Gaza, and achieve the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories.

Witkoff reportedly presented a “bridge” plan the previous week intended to extend the Gaza truce into April, encompassing Ramadan and Passover, to allow additional time for negotiations towards a lasting cessation of conflict.

Israel‘s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, affirmed on Friday his directive for the military to “seize more ground” in Gaza, while also issuing a warning regarding potential partial annexation. This measure, he indicated, would be implemented if Hamas does not release the hostages held within the Palestinian territory, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“I have instructed the (army) to take control of additional territory in Gaza. … The more Hamas refuses to concede to the release of hostages, the more territory it will relinquish, subsequently to be annexed by Israel,” he declared in a statement, reiterating the threat of a “permanent occupation” of “buffer zones” within the Gaza Strip.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) conveyed on Friday the situation in Gaza as “gravely concerning.” They cited “significant reductions” in the distribution of aid and the closure of educational facilities.

Further details to follow…

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz communicated on Friday that the army is applying all feasible pressure on Hamas to secure the release of remaining hostages. Measures include the relocation of Palestinians in Gaza southward and the implementation of US President Donald Trump‘s resettlement initiative.

Below is a video report detailing the Israeli protests referenced in the blog’s opening post:

Israel‘s opposition factions and a non-governmental organization disclosed on Friday that they jointly submitted a petition against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s choice to dismiss Ronen Bar, the director of the internal Shin Bet security agency.

Netanyahu’s administration proceeded with Bar’s dismissal in the early hours of Friday, previously citing a “persistent lack of trust,” as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel issued a statement denouncing “an unlawful decision … constituting a tangible threat to the national security of the State of Israel.”

Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, from the center-right Yesh Atid party, independently communicated the filing of an appeal with Israel’s Supreme Court on behalf of several opposition movements. Lapid’s party characterized the dismissal as “a decision rooted in an evident conflict of interest.”

The opposition’s appeal was collectively presented by Yesh Atid, alongside the National Union party, led by former defense minister Benny Gantz, the Democrats party, and the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party.

Netanyahu pointed to a “continuous erosion of professional and personal confidence” as the rationale for Bar’s removal, which is scheduled to take effect by April 10.

Iran‘s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated on Friday that Tehran does not maintain proxies within the region and that affiliated groups operate autonomously, according to Reuters reports.

US President Donald Trump had declared on the preceding Monday his intent to hold Iran accountable for any assaults perpetrated by the Yemeni Houthi faction, groups which the US asserts are supported by Iran.

Khamenei commented that Americans “commit a significant error by labeling regional resistance centers as Iranian proxies. What is the definition of a proxy?”

“The Yemeni populace possesses its own impetus, and regional resistance factions are similarly driven by their own motivations. Iran has no need for proxies,” Khamenei asserted.

Furthermore, Khamenei added, “They are issuing threats; however, we have never initiated a confrontation or conflict with any entity. Nevertheless, should any actor exhibit malice and initiate hostilities, they shall face severe repercussions.”

Israel‘s opposition and a non-governmental organization announced on Friday that they have jointly presented a petition to the Supreme Court contesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to remove Ronen Bar from his position as head of the internal Shin Bet security agency.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a pro-democracy advocacy group, released a statement condemning “an illegal decision…that presents a genuine danger to Israel’s national security.” Simultaneously, opposition leader Yair Lapid‘s center-right party confirmed the submission of an appeal to the Supreme Court, denouncing the move as “a decision predicated on a blatant conflict of interest.”

Reports indicate that Netanyahu’s cabinet conducted a unanimous vote on Friday morning to dismiss Bar. This action marks the first instance in Israeli history where the government has discharged the chief of the domestic security agency, according to the Times of Israel. Bar is expected to vacate his post by April 10.

In recent days, tens of thousands of Israelis have engaged in street demonstrations, advocating for a renewed ceasefire in Gaza and protesting what they perceive as an assault on the nation’s democratic principles by Netanyahu’s right-wing governing coalition.

While the immediate catalyst for public discontent was Netanyahu’s initiative to remove Bar, the demonstrations have been further amplified by the Prime Minister’s decision to end a two-month truce in Gaza through intensified aerial bombardments.

Major roadways were blockaded, and law enforcement made at least a dozen arrests amidst intense moments in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Campaign organizers anticipate continued demonstrations in the coming days, expecting the movement to “accumulate momentum and energy.”

More developments on this story are forthcoming. However, first, here are some other significant updates:

• Casualties Mount in Gaza: At least 91 Palestinians have perished, and numerous others sustained injuries during the third consecutive day of Israeli assaults across Gaza. Medical authorities in the region report that a significant portion of the deceased are women and children. Among those rescued alive from the debris on Thursday was a month-old infant girl, tragically orphaned as her parents and brother were killed.

• Evacuation Warnings Issued: The Israeli military has disseminated warnings to Palestinians, advising them to evacuate areas in northern and eastern Gaza to prevent entrapment by potential combat. These warnings suggest that ground incursions may be imminent, even though Israel presently appears to be prioritizing aerial operations. Thursday’s strikes predominantly targeted the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, along with the northern town of Beit Lahiya.

• Family Home Struck: An attack on a family residence in Abasan al-Kabira, a locality near Khan Younis, on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, predominantly women and children. The European hospital in proximity, which received the deceased, confirmed this information. The residence was situated within an area recently subject to an evacuation directive.

• Hamas Retaliates with Rocket Fire: In the first military reaction to the Israeli offensive since the breakdown of the ceasefire, Hamas launched rockets towards Tel Aviv in Israel on Thursday. There were no reported fatalities or infrastructural damage.

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Responds to US Threats: Iran’s supreme leader declared on Friday that US threats against his country “will get them nowhere,” in response to US President Donald Trump’s cautioning of potential military actions against the Islamic Republic.