The Israeli military has initiated the early phases of a heightened operation in Gaza aimed at defeating Hamas. According to reports from rescuers in the region, fresh strikes on Saturday resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals. The intensified campaign comes amidst a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by an Israeli aid blockade. One of the last functioning hospitals in the territory has warned that it can no longer treat seriously injured patients due to supply shortages and damage from nearby attacks.
In a public statement, the Israeli army indicated that it had begun the “initial stages” of the new offensive. This operation is part of a broader strategy to expand military engagement in the Gaza Strip, which aims to achieve strategic objectives, including the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas. The military noted that extensive airstrikes had been conducted and forces have been redirected to gain control of various areas within Gaza.
Addressing the Arab League gathering in Baghdad, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about Israel’s planned expansion of ground operations, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for increased efforts to halt the ongoing conflict.
According to Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency, 10 bodies were retrieved from hospitals following the strikes. Specific incidents included three fatalities from drone strikes east of Khan Yunis and three others resulting from a bombing in Jabalia. Additional strikes in the vicinity of Khan Yunis accounted for four more deaths. Israeli strikes are reported to have killed at least 100 individuals the previous day.
Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, 2023, marking the end of a two-month truce that followed a Hamas attack in October 2023. The resurgence of violence has prompted widespread international condemnation. UN human rights chief Volker Turk characterized the renewed assaults as a potential effort to ethnically cleanse Palestinian inhabitants from Gaza.
Amidst these developments, an Israeli campaign group advocating for hostages criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for potentially missing an opportunity to negotiate the release of captives. Hamas has called on the United States to pressure Israel into lifting the ongoing aid blockade, following the release of a U.S.-Israeli hostage. The last American hostage, Edan Alexander, was freed after negotiations that reportedly excluded Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of being dishonest about his commitment to peace in Gaza, while Netanyahu continues to face growing pressure to alleviate the blockade amid warnings from UN agencies about severe shortages of essential resources in Gaza.
Marwan Sultan, director of a northern Gaza hospital, described the situation as “catastrophic” as recent attacks caused structural damage to medical facilities. Trump acknowledged the dire conditions in Gaza, stating, “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of,” during remarks in Abu Dhabi, absent from a key visit to Israel.
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in 1,218 deaths in Israel, primarily among civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken during that incident, 57 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead. Since the resumption of Israeli strikes on March 18, at least 3,131 deaths have been reported in Gaza, bringing the overall toll from the conflict to 53,272 lives lost.
