Israel’s military has declared the initiation of a significant offensive designed to eliminate Hamas and ensure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
The Israeli Defence Forces announced on its Hebrew X account that troops were mobilized for “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” which aimed at capturing “strategic areas” of the strip.
The civil defence operated by Hamas reports that Israeli attacks have resulted in approximately 250 fatalities since Thursday. Meanwhile, Reuters has cited local authorities indicating that at least 58 Palestinians lost their lives in overnight airstrikes.
In March, Israel enacted an aid blockade on the strip following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire agreement.
On Friday, President Donald Trump remarked that “a lot of people were starving” in Gaza.
The Israeli military refrained from utilizing the operational name in comparable posts on its English-language X account.
The statement indicated that operations would continue “until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home,” noting that “over 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip” had been struck within 24 hours.
Israel has escalated its airstrikes and reinforced its armoured presence at the border, even as international calls for a return to ceasefire negotiations and the lifting of the blockade continue to mount. The initiation of the operation indicates that previous attempts may not have succeeded.
The Times of Israel reported that “Gideon’s Chariots,” a nod to a biblical figure, would involve the IDF in seizing and managing territory, relocating civilians to the southern part of the strip, launching attacks on Hamas, and obstructing its control over aid supplies.
Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel was gearing up for a “intense entry into Gaza” with the objective of capturing and holding territory.
The government announced that operations would not begin until Trump had finished his tour of the Middle East. On Friday, the president of the United States departed from the region.
Volker Türk, the UN Human Rights Chief, has issued a warning that Israel’s recent escalation may constitute a violation of international law.
“The recent wave of bombings has compelled residents to flee as the threat of escalated assaults looms. The systematic obliteration of neighbourhoods, coupled with the obstruction of humanitarian aid, suggests a concerted effort towards a lasting demographic change in Gaza. This action raises serious concerns regarding compliance with international law and is reminiscent of ethnic cleansing,” he stated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that the United States is “troubled” by the current situation.
Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, shared with the BBC World Service’s Weekend programme that her team is “exhausted” and has experienced a “considerable amount of weight loss.”
“The children appear to be quite thin,” she remarked. ” A significant number of young individuals are experiencing tooth loss.”
“Many individuals are suffering from severe burn injuries, and due to their malnutrition, they are significantly more susceptible to infections and possess a greatly diminished ability to recover.”
A recent assessment supported by the United Nations, released on Monday, indicates that the population of Gaza is facing a “critical risk” of famine.
The Israeli government has consistently dismissed allegations of a food shortage in Gaza.
In a decisive military operation, Israel has initiated a campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas, following the group’s incursion on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others. Hamas continues to maintain control over 57.
According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas, the death toll in Gaza has reached at least 53,000 since that time.
