At least 20 killed overnight in Gaza as massive strikes continue

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article said that the IDF had dropped leaflets with disturbing messaging. ABC News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of these leaflets. The IDF denies dropping these leaflets.

LONDON -- The Israel Defense Forces says that it is focusing ground operations in the center of the Gaza Strip after attacks since the ceasefire ended on Tuesday night have left nearly 500 Gazans dead -- primarily women and children -- according to a spokesperson for Gaza's civil defense team.

During phase one of the ceasefire deal, Israel withdrew completely from the Netzarim corridor.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the residents of Gaza that "the evacuation of the population from the battle zones" in Gaza will "begin again soon," in a video message in Hebrew on Wednesday.

Katz encouraged Gaza residents to go to "other places in the world for those who wish."

"Take the advice of the U.S. President. Return the hostages and eliminate Hamas, and other options will open up for you -- including going to other places in the world for those who wish," Katz said.

Last month, President Donald Trump called for the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, drawing wide international criticism and accusations from allies and the United Nations. He has since said that Palestinians should want to leave voluntarily due to the destruction.

Residents of Gaza are currently unable to leave on their own because the border crossing into Egypt is closed.

Israel's current plan is to make Gaza unlivable, re-establish those so-called "humanitarian zones," concentrate Palestinians in those bubbles or islands and from there offer voluntary transfer out of Gaza, retired Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, a security hawk who continues to advise the military and defense ministry, told ABC News.

Avivi stressed leaving would be voluntary. They would be loaded on buses and sent through the Kerem Shalom crossing either to Ashdod port, or to an airport near Eilat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops on Wednesday that a "larger front" could open in the West Bank.

“While we are waging a fierce war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, we are aware of the possibility that a larger front could open in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office, referring to the Israeli-occupied West Bank territories.

Israel started a larger operation in the West Bank, called Operation Iron Wall, after the first phase of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire went into effect on Jan. 19.

Prior to resuming ground operations in Gaza, an Israeli official told ABC News that its renewed campaign of strikes on the Gaza Strip would continue until all remaining hostages are released.

Palestinian health officials said that nearly 500 people have been killed in Gaza -- including more than 170 children nearly 90 women -- since Israel renewed its bombardment of the coastal territory overnight Tuesday, marking the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas that began in January. At least 678 others have been wounded, Palestinian officials said.

On Tuesday, an Israeli official told ABC News of Hamas, "They got hammered last night and they're going to continue to be hammered until we get the hostages out."

An Israeli official described the Israel Defense Forces' renewed attacks against Hamas in Gaza as a "different form of negotiating," and said Israel had "not closed the door" to talks resuming via mediators if Hamas is willing to accept further hostage-prisoner swaps.

An Israeli official told ABC News on Tuesday that the offensive will continue "as long as necessary," and will "expand beyond air strikes."

Far-right Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and his party have re-joined Netanyahu's coalition in the Knesset, after leaving when the ceasefire went into effect earlier this year.

Gvir has extreme views and wants Netanyahu to go even further in Gaza. There is a vote on Israel's budget at the end of March.

If Netanyahu's coalition fails to pass that budget, his government falls, according to Israeli law.

Wednesday brought fresh strikes in Gaza. The IDF said it attacked what it called "a Hamas military site in northern Gaza where preparations were being made to fire projectiles at Israeli territory."

The Israeli navy also "struck several vessels in the coastal area of the Gaza Strip," which the IDF said were slated for use by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said Wednesday that one foreign staffer working for the United Nations was killed by an Israeli strike in central Gaza, with five others suffering "severe" injuries. The wounded were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the ministry said.

The IDF denied involvement. "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a UN compound in Deir el Balah," it said in a statement.

At least 20 more people were killed overnight: 10 were killed in Rafah, another 10 were killed in Khan Younis, according to Gaza Civil Defense Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal on Wednesday.

Israel's renewed campaign in Gaza marked the end of nearly two months of relative quiet in the region, which has been devastated by intense fighting since October 2023. The ceasefire saw 33 Israeli hostages released from Gaza in return for the release of nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

Fifty-nine hostages are believed to remain in Gaza -- 24 of whom are presumed to be alive. Edan Alexander is the last American-Israeli hostage still thought to be alive.

Several members of Hamas' administrative and civil wings were killed in the renewed strikes. They included Deputy Minister of the Interior Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Abu Tuffah and Deputy Minister of Justice Omar al-Hatta.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his country would act against Hamas "with increasing intensity."

"From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire," he said in a statement. "Hamas has already felt the presence of our force in the last 24 hours and I want to assure you: This is just the beginning."

"The military strike on Hamas and the release of our hostages are not contradictory goals -- they are goals that are intertwined," Netanyahu said.

The renewed offensive prompted major protests in Israel, including from the families of those still being held hostage in Gaza.

"The greatest fear of the families, the kidnapped and the citizens of Israel has come true," the Hostage Families' Forum said in a statement issued on Tuesday. "The Israeli government has chosen to give up on the kidnapped."