GAZA: Israel announced Wednesday (Apr 16) that it had converted 30 per cent of Gaza's territory into a buffer zone as it pressed its unrelenting military offensive, vowing to maintain its blockade on humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on Mar 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas that had largely halted hostilities , with rescuers on Wednesday saying at least 11 were killed in strikes across the Palestinian territory.