Sat Apr 12 11:51:50 UTC 2025: ## Israel Completes Gaza Encirclement, Expanding Offensive
**JERUSALEM, April 12, 2025** – Israeli forces have completed their encirclement of Rafah, Gaza, as part of an expanding military offensive, according to the Israeli military. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee the area following repeated evacuation warnings.
The operation, which resumed in March after a brief ceasefire, involves seizing more territory in the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the offensive will soon intensify and expand to other areas, urging further evacuations from combat zones.
This latest escalation follows the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which triggered the ongoing conflict. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, and much of Gaza lies in ruins, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. Israel cites the continued holding of 59 hostages as justification for the ongoing campaign and its stated goal of eliminating Hamas.
Hamas has rejected demands to disarm and insists on the release of hostages as part of a broader peace deal. A Hamas delegation is reportedly traveling to Cairo to discuss new truce proposals. The situation remains highly volatile, with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsening with each passing day.
First Piper 