Israel Escalates Gaza Operation to Free Hostages After Trump’s Middle East Visit
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel launched a major military operation in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. This comes after days of intense airstrikes across Gaza that have tragically claimed hundreds of lives.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Operation Gideon Chariots is being conducted with significant force. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously vowed to intensify pressure on Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, with the stated goal of dismantling it.
Trump’s Visit and Ceasefire Hopes Unfulfilled
This military escalation unfolds just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East trip, which notably did not include a visit to Israel. There had been hopes that Trump’s visit might pave the way for a ceasefire agreement or the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel has restricted for over two months.
Hopeless Negotiations and Hostage Concerns
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, taking place in Doha, Qatar, have yet to yield any progress. While Hamas released one Israeli-American hostage as a gesture of goodwill before Trump’s trip, they insist on a deal that ends the war and involves the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has firmly rejected this demand.
Israel’s Stance: Pressure and Dismantlement
Israel’s army has declared on social media that it is intensifying attacks and applying “tremendous pressure” on Hamas across Gaza. They have vowed to continue these operations until all hostages are returned and Hamas is dismantled.
Israeli authorities believe around 23 hostages are still alive in Gaza, though they have expressed concern for the well-being of three of them.
Tragic Casualties and Ongoing Airstrikes
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 150 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, adding to the over 3,000 fatalities since Israel breached a January ceasefire on March 18.
On Saturday, Israeli strikes tragically killed at least four children in the Jabaliya refugee camp, along with seven others wounded. A subsequent strike in the same area claimed the lives of four more individuals. Airstrikes near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of 14 people, with the bodies arriving at al-Aqsa hospital. One strike on a house killed eight people, including parents and four children.
While Israel has not yet commented on these specific strikes, they have stated that their military killed dozens of fighters while dismantling an “underground route” in northern Gaza.
Gaza Under Blockade: A Humanitarian Crisis
Gaza is currently facing its third month under an Israeli blockade, with no food, water, fuel, or essential goods entering the territory, home to over 2 million people. Food security experts warn that Gaza is teetering on the brink of famine if the blockade isn’t lifted.
A New Humanitarian Effort Faces Criticism
Earlier this week, a new U.S.-backed humanitarian organization announced plans to take over aid delivery, aiming to begin operations by the end of the month. However, this initiative has been met with skepticism and criticism from many in the humanitarian community, including the U.N., who argue that it doesn’t align with humanitarian principles and lacks the capacity to meet the needs of Palestinians in Gaza.
Tom Fletcher, the U.N. humanitarian chief, stated that a pre-existing aid delivery plan is ready to be activated immediately if permitted to do so.
The Escalating Conflict: A Month of Violence
The war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It’s important to note that this figure doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
