Israel Intensifies Military Action in Gaza: What You Need to Know
Major Military Operation Launched
Jerusalem: In a significant escalation, Israel has initiated a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip aimed at compelling Hamas to free the remaining hostages, as stated by the defense minister on Saturday. This follows a series of intense airstrikes that have resulted in numerous casualties across the region.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the operation, dubbed Operation Gideon Chariots, is being executed with considerable force by the Israeli military.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to intensify efforts against Hamas, with the objective of dismantling the militant organization that has governed Gaza for nearly twenty years.
This military action coincides with US President Donald Trump's recent visit to the region, which did not include a stop in Israel. There were hopes that Trump's trip might facilitate a ceasefire or the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been blocked by Israel for over two months.
Discussions between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar, have yet to yield any significant results. Hamas, which recently released an Israeli-American hostage as a gesture of goodwill prior to Trump's Middle East visit, is demanding a resolution that would conclude the ongoing conflict—a condition Israel has rejected.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 150 individuals have died due to Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, with nearly 3,000 fatalities reported since Israel resumed hostilities after breaking a ceasefire on March 18.
Israel estimates that around 23 hostages are still alive in Gaza, although there are concerns regarding the well-being of three of them.
The current conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. In retaliation, Israel's military actions have reportedly claimed the lives of over 53,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, as per Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.