Rafah: The Israeli army announced Saturday an expansion of its ground operations in the southern Gaza Strip. A military statement indicated that army forces advanced into the Jeneina neighborhood of Rafah City to establish what is described as a 'defensive security zone' in the area. The military reported striking dozens of targets over the weekend as part of the intensified operations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army initially began a 'pinpoint' ground operation on March 19, aiming to create a buffer zone between northern and southern Gaza. This followed a surprise aerial campaign launched on March 18, which resulted in the death of over 920 people, injuries to more than 2,000 others, and the collapse of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that had been in place since January.

The ongoing military actions have resulted in the deaths of more than 50,200 Palestinians, primarily women and children, with over 114,000 injured since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in October 2023. The situation has drawn international legal attention, with the International Criminal Court having issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its military actions in the enclave.