Israel launches a brand new army operation in Gaza a day after Trump leaves the Center East

[ad_1] JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel mentioned Saturday that it has launched a significant operation within the Gaza Strip to strain Hamas to launch remaining hostages, following days of strikes throughout the Palestinian territory that killed a whole lot of individuals.

Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned that Operation Gideon Chariots was being led with “nice pressure.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to escalate strain with the purpose of destroying the militant group that has dominated Gaza for almost twenty years.

The army operation got here a day after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East trip and not using a go to to Israel. There had been hope that Trump’s journey may enhance the possibilities of a ceasefire deal or the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza , which Israel has prevented for greater than two months.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have but to attain progress in Qatar’s capital, Doha. 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 comply with.

Israel’s military mentioned on social media that it was intensifying assaults and exerting “large strain” on Hamas throughout Gaza, and wouldn’t cease till the hostages are returned and the militant group is dismantled.

Israel believes as many as 23 of the 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, in keeping with 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 not less than 4 youngsters within the Jabaliya refugee camp within the north, in keeping with al-Awda Hospital, which obtained the our bodies. Seven others had been wounded within the strike, which hit a home. A later strike in Jabaliya killed 4, the hospital mentioned.

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 mother and father and 4 youngsters.

There was no speedy 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.

Month 3 of Israel’s blockade Gaza is within the third month of an Israeli blockade with no meals, water, gas or different items getting into the territory of greater than 2 million individuals. Meals safety specialists say Gaza can be in famine if the blockade isn’t lifted.

Earlier this week, a brand new humanitarian organization that has U.S. backing to take over assist 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 guide the hassle.

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 ideas 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 assist supply plan with 160,000 pallets of provides prepared to maneuver: “It is able to be activated — at the moment — if we're merely 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, a lot of them ladies and kids, in keeping with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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Samy Magdy reported from Cairo.

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Observe AP’s warfare protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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