Israel plans to reoccupy roughly one-quarter of the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks as part of a renewed military campaign to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, a senior Israeli official said Monday, according to Axios.

The Israeli military has launched an expanded ground operation in Gaza aimed at reoccupying 25% of the enclave in the next two to three weeks, according to a senior Israeli official who briefed reporters Monday. The move, described as a “maximum pressure” campaign, is intended to coerce Hamas into releasing more hostages.

The expansion follows the collapse of ceasefire talks and marks a significant escalation in the ongoing war, which resumed on March 17. That day, Israel conducted heavy airstrikes across Gaza, reportedly targeting Hamas positions. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 400 Palestinians were killed in the initial bombardment, the majority of them women and children.

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