Israeli forces were expanding their offensive in Gaza on Sunday, taking control of more territory and issuing new evacuation orders for residents who had only recently returned to their homes.
The Israeli military renewed its offensive in Gaza this past week after talks to extend a fragile, temporary cease-fire that went into effect in mid-January reached an impasse.
Amid the escalation in fighting and evacuation orders, Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that the death toll in the enclave since the war started had surpassed 50,000 people — including 39 people killed in Israeli bombardments over the past day. The ministry’s figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
On Sunday, Israel said that its operations had moved into additional areas in the north and south of the enclave.
Israel said that its troops had begun operating in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, to expand a buffer zone. The military also said that it had carried out more airstrikes against Hamas targets and infrastructure and that it was allowing people to evacuate.
The military also separately issued an evacuation order for the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of the southern city of Rafah, telling residents to leave on foot along a specific route and barring the movement of vehicles.
