Israel restarts ground offensive

Renewed attacks in Gaza shatter calm, drawing criticism from intl community

Israel began conducting "ground operations" in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday following its latest round of attacks that have killed hundreds of people in the enclave, drawing condemnation from the international community which demanded that Israel end violence and return to talks.

A day after launching a new ground campaign in central Gaza, the Israeli military said on Thursday it had begun conducting ground operations in the north of the enclave, along the coastal route in the area of Beit Lahia.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, said its troops aimed to "expand the security zone and to create a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza".