Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, May 17: The Israeli military on Saturday said it had launched ‘extensive strikes’ across the Gaza Strip as part of the initial phase of a new offensive named Operation Gideon's Chariots.
In a statement in Arabic on Telegram, the Israeli army said the intensified assault aimed to “achieve all the war’s objectives,” including the defeat of Hamas and the release of remaining hostages.
According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 100 people were killed in Friday’s bombardment alone. Israel said over 150 Hamas-linked targets were hit within 24 hours.
The renewed offensive comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Reports suggest the expanded military campaign had received cabinet approval earlier this month, though no official announcement had been made.
Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce. The war initially began after Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel in October 2023, killing 1,218 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israeli authorities say 57 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with 34 believed to be dead.
Since the offensive resumed, 2,985 Palestinians have been killed, bringing the total death toll in the Hamas-run territory to over 53,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The situation on the ground remains critical, with both the military operations and humanitarian crisis escalating.