By Ibrahim Hazboun and Samy Magdy | Related Press
JERUSALEM — Israel mentioned Saturday it launched a serious army operation within the Gaza Strip to strain Hamas to launch remaining hostages, whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a negotiating group to stay in Qatar for oblique talks with the militant group.
Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned Operation Gideon Chariots was being led with “great force.” Netanyahu had vowed to escalate strain with the purpose of destroying the militant group that has dominated Gaza for practically 20 years.
The army operation within the Palestinian territory got here a day after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his Center East journey with no go to to Israel. There had been hope that his go to might improve the probabilities of a ceasefire deal or the resumption of humanitarian support to Gaza, which Israel has prevented for greater than two months.
An Israel official mentioned that Netanyahu was in fixed contact all through the day with the negotiating group in Doha, Qatar, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, and instructed the group to stay there. The official spoke on situation of anonymity, as a result of he wasn’t licensed to debate the delicate negotiations with the media.
Hamas, which launched an Israeli-American hostage as a goodwill gesture earlier than Trump’s journey, insists on a deal that ends the warfare and results in the withdrawal of Israeli forces — one thing Israel mentioned that it received’t conform to.
Israel’s military mentioned on social media it wouldn’t cease till the hostages are returned and the militant group is dismantled. Israel believes as many as 23 hostages in Gaza are nonetheless alive, though Israeli authorities have expressed concern for the standing of three of them.
Greater than 150 individuals had been killed in Israeli strikes within the final 24 hours, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry. It mentioned greater than 3,000 have been killed since Israel broke a January ceasefire on March 18.
On Saturday afternoon, an Israeli strike killed at the least 4 kids within the Jabaliya refugee camp within the north, based on al-Awda Hospital, which obtained the our bodies. Seven others have been wounded within the strike, which hit a home. A later strike in Jabaliya killed 4, the hospital mentioned.
“This is unacceptable. Until when? Until we all die?” requested a sweating Naji Awaisa as he and others fled Jabaliya with their belongings down streets lined with shattered buildings. Smoke from airstrikes rose within the distance.
Airstrikes round Deir al-Balah in central Gaza killed 14 individuals, with the our bodies arriving at al-Aqsa hospital. One strike on a home killed eight individuals, together with dad and mom and 4 kids.
A strike hit outdoors a college sheltering displaced individuals in Gaza Metropolis, killing 4, the Gaza Well being Ministry’s emergency service mentioned.
There was no quick Israeli touch upon the strikes. A separate assertion mentioned that the army had killed dozens of fighters whereas dismantling an “underground route” in northern Gaza.
Tons of of protesters rallied Saturday evening in Tel Aviv, some holding images of Palestinian kids killed in Gaza, with others demanding a deal to finish the warfare and convey all hostages residence.
“Let me be crystal clear. All of Israeli society, left, right, secular, religious, stands united in calling for a hostage deal. To miss this moment for a deal would be a betrayal of history, a stain that will never fade,” Dalia Kushnir-Horn, sister-in-law of hostage Eitan Horn, informed the gang.
Month 3 of Israel’s blockade
Gaza is within the third month of an Israeli blockade with no meals, water, gasoline or different items getting into the territory of greater than 2 million individuals. Meals safety consultants say Gaza shall be in famine if the blockade isn’t lifted.
Earlier this week, a brand new humanitarian group that has U.S. backing to take over support supply mentioned that it expects to start operations by the top of the month, after what it described as key agreements with Israeli officers. The Gaza Humanitarian Basis recognized a number of U.S. army veterans, former humanitarian coordinators and safety contractors to steer the trouble.
Many within the humanitarian group, together with the U.N., mentioned that they received’t take part, as a result of the system doesn’t align with humanitarian rules and received’t be capable of meet the wants of Palestinians in Gaza.
Tom Fletcher, the U.N. humanitarian chief, mentioned Friday that there’s already an support supply plan with 160,000 pallets of provides prepared to maneuver: “It is ready to be activated — today — if we are simply allowed to do our jobs.”
The warfare in Gaza started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and abducting 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed greater than 53,000 Palestinians, lots of them girls and youngsters, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Magdy reported from Cairo. Tia Goldenberg contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Initially Printed: Might 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM PDT
