Israeli military says it has begun new ground operation in Gaza as strikes kill at least 20 [Video]

The Israeli military said on Wednesday its forces have resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, as a second day of air strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians, according to local health workers.

The renewed ground operations come a day after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in air strikes in one of the deadliest episodes since the beginning of the conflict, shattering a ceasefire that has largely held since January.

The Israeli military said its operations extended Israel’s control over the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects Gaza, and were a “focused” manoeuvre aimed at creating a partial buffer zone between the north and the south of the enclave.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas said the ground operation and the incursion into the …