Israel Announces Major Expansion of Military Operation in Gaza
April 2, 2025, 11:42 am

Israel Announces Major Expansion of Military Operation in Gaza

غزة نزوح الأهالي

Amid the continued displacement of residents from the city of Rafah in southern Gaza and some northern areas, following Israeli orders and warnings, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a significant expansion of the military operation in Gaza.

In a statement on Wednesday, Katz confirmed that "the measures will involve seizing large areas of the Strip and annexing them to Israeli security zones." He added that there is a plan for a large-scale evacuation of residents from combat areas, while calling for the need to eliminate Hamas and return the Israeli hostages as a means to end the current conflict.

These remarks come as Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues since dawn today, with a medical source telling Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that 19 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past few hours.

The Israeli army issued new orders yesterday to evacuate areas in northern Gaza, particularly in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, following similar orders in Rafah, further escalating the situation in this devastated territory.

It is noteworthy that Israel had previously established a large buffer zone within Gaza, having expanded the areas at the edges of the Strip before the outbreak of war, in addition to a large security area at the Netzarim corridor.

In the same context, Israeli leaders announced plans to facilitate the voluntary departure of Palestinians from the Strip, following U.S. President Donald Trump's call last February for the complete evacuation of Gaza and its redevelopment into a coastal resort under American control.

For the record, Israel had ended its ceasefire agreement with Hamas on March 18 and began launching a series of surprise airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians across the Strip.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”