Israel expands Gaza offensive with airstrikes

Paris, May 18: The Israeli military said on Friday it had stepped up its operations in the Gaza Strip, launching a wave of airstrikes and deploying additional ground forces in an effort to establish operational control in parts of the enclave.  The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the intensified assault marked the start of a new operation codenamed "Gideon's Chariots," which aims to expand the scope of fighting and advance key war objectives, including the release of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas. "IDF troops will continue to operate in order to protect Israeli civilians and achieve the objectives of the war," the military said in a statement.

 Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would enter Gaza "with full force" in the coming days as part of efforts to defeat Hamas. Health officials in Gaza said at least 109 people were killed and 216 wounded in the northern part of the territory on Friday amid the latest Israeli bombardment.

The intensification followed Israel's resumption of military operations in Gaza on March 18, after a brief lull in fighting. Since then, at least 2,985 Palestinians have been killed and 8,173 injured, bringing the total number of deaths since the conflict erupted in October 2023 to 53,119, with 120,214 wounded, according to Gaza's health authorities.

 Hamas accused Israel on Thursday of disregarding ongoing ceasefire mediation efforts, saying the Israeli government is pursuing "an endless war." "Israel is responding to mediation efforts with military pressure on civilians, mass bombing, and more suffering for the Palestinian people in a desperate attempt to impose its terms under fire," the group said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authorities have released 10 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza Saturday, who were arrested during the recent ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

 Local Palestinian sources reported that the released prisoners arrived at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Among them was a prisoner with an amputated foot. 

Medical staff received the prisoners to monitor their health. In a related context, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement that it facilitated the release of the detainees and their transfer to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

 It noted that its teams facilitated communication between the released prisoners and their families. It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation forces continue to detain thousands of residents of the Gaza Strip, including children and women, and forcibly disappear many of them. 

Approximately 60 of them have been killed as a result of torture and ill-treatment in Israeli prisons and detention centers. (AFP)