It aims at forcing Hamas to release remaining hostages and dismantle the militant group; over 150 deaths reported in Gaza in 24 hours following the air strikes; Gaza remains under blockade with no food, water, fuel, or goods entering the region.
Israel has launched a major operation in the Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages, the defence minister said on Saturday, following days of intensive strikes across the territory that killed hundreds of people. Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Operation Gideon Chariots was being led with “great force” by Israel’s army.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to escalate pressure on Hamas with the aim of destroying the militant group that has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades.
The operation comes as U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his trip to the region without a visit to Israel. There had been widespread hope that Mr. Trump’s trip could increase the chances of a ceasefire deal or the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel has prevented for more than two months.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have yet to achieve progress in Qatar’s capital, Doha. Hamas, which released an Israeli-American hostage as a goodwill gesture ahead of Mr. Trump’s West Asia trip, insists on a deal that ends the war — something Israel said it won’t agree to.
Israel’s army said in a post on X on Saturday that it was intensifying attacks and exerting “tremendous pressure” on Hamas across the strip. It said it will not stop until the hostages are returned and Hamas dismantled.
Of the hostages who remain in Gaza, Israel believes as many as 23 are still alive, although Israeli authorities have expressed concern for the status of three of those.
More than 150 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It said more than 3,000 have been killed since Israel broke a January ceasefire on March 18.
Gaza has entered a third month of an Israeli blockade with no food, water, fuel or other goods entering the territory. Food security experts say Gaza will be in famine if the blockade is not lifted.
