ISRAEL is expanding its invasion of Gaza to seize “large areas” to “crush and clean the area,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced today.

The move came as Gaza’s hospitals reported that an overnight air strike killed more than 50 people, with nearly a dozen being children and a United Nations clinic among the targets.

Mr Katz said the military’s latest offensive in the war-torn strip would involve “seizing large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel.”

He did not specify which areas of Gaza would be taken over, but called on Gaza residents to “expel Hamas and return all hostages.”

His statement came after Israel ordered the full evacuation of the southern city of Rafah and nearby areas.

The attack was discussed in Parliament today, where Labour toughened its rhetoric against Israel’s actions, but stopped short of offering the slightest change in policy or the practical support it is affording the genocide.

MPs across the Commons pressed the government to be more robust.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said that Israel’s actions were “not about security, but about domination and erasure” of Palestinians.

Asking an urgent Commons question, Ms Denyer accused Israel of “the worst blockade since the war began” and stressed “what is happening is a genocide.”

When, she asked, would the government “take measures under international law against ongoing genocide, illegal occupation and apartheid?”

No time soon was the response from Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer.

“The UK does not support an expansion of Israel’s military operations,” he told MPs.

“We urge all parties to return to dialogue and ceasefire negotiations, ensuring the return of all who have endured unimaginable suffering.

“It is clear that this conflict cannot be won by bombs and bullets but by diplomacy.

“Aid should never be used as a political tool, Israel must restart the flow of aid immediately.

“Blocking goods supplies and power entering Gaza risks breaching international humanitarian law and should not be happening.

“We’re doing everything we can to alleviate that situation.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had earlier repeated his familiar mantra to MPs, saying: “Israel must stop blocking aid to Gaza, the hostages must be released, and we must have an urgent resumption of the ceasefire.”

Labour MP Abitsam Mohamed accused Israel of “forced displacement, ethnic cleansing and the complete destruction of Gaza,” committing “war crimes, crimes against humanity,” while Labour’s Tan Sing Deshi accused Israel of “the weaponisation of starvation.”

Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Monica Harding urged recognition of a Palestinian state and fellow MP Layla Moran urged the suspension of all arms sales to Israel.

Mr Falconer committed to neither.

Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn outlined the horrific situation in Gaza and demanded the end to the use of the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus to support Israel and the sale of parts for F-35 fighter jets.

In Israel, The Hostage Families Forum, which represents most captives’ families, said that it was “horrified to wake up this morning” to the defence minister’s announcement.

Israeli air strikes overnight killed 17 people in Khan Younis, while another 15 were killed in northern Gaza, according to hospital officials.

Doctors at the Nasser Hospital said the bodies of 12 people killed in an overnight air strike that were brought to the hospital included five women, one of them pregnant, and two children.

Gaza European Hospital officials said they received five bodies of people killed in two separate air strikes.

Later in the day, an Israeli attack on a UNRWA clinic in Jabaliya refugee camp killed 15 people, including nine children and two women.

UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma said the site was not functioning as a clinic when it was hit, but was being used as a shelter for displaced people, with about 735 people from 160 families staying there.

Despite UNRWA staff warning of the dangers of the facility after today’s attack, many displaced families have not left the site “simply because they have absolutely nowhere else to go,” Ms Touma said.

Israel claimed the strike targeted a Hamas “command and control centre.”

The country has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, including hundreds who died in strikes since a ceasefire ended about two weeks ago after Israel blamed Hamas for rejecting a US proposal for an extension.

Unicef said on Tuesday that at least 322 children have been killed in the last two weeks, with more than 600 wounded.

The UN agency said “relentless and indiscriminate bombardments” had resumed in Gaza and that most of the children who were killed had been displaced and were sheltering in makeshift tents or damaged homes.

“With each displacement, we’re tortured a thousand times,” Ihab Suliman said.

He and his family found an apartment in the central town of Deir al-Balah after being forced to flee Jabaliya with just some blankets on March 19.

The former university professor said they are struggling, with no electricity and little aid. They have to walk long distances to find water.

Gaza remains under a blockade by Israel, restricting food, fuel and supplies from reaching the starving population.