The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a full-scale ground offensive in Gaza, aiming to seize “operational control” over several areas of the besieged enclave.
The military escalation comes as ceasefire negotiations in Qatar failed to produce results and international pressure mounts on Israel to reduce civilian casualties.
In a statement released Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces had “eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites … and [were] currently being deployed in key positions.” The renewed push follows weeks of intermittent fighting and marks one of the most extensive operations since the onset of the conflict.
According to Gaza-based rescuers and medical personnel, the overnight and daytime strikes killed as many as 130 people across several neighborhoods in the north, center, and south of the Strip. Many of the casualties reportedly include women and children.
The offensive was launched just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced a limited easing of the blockade, stating, “Israel will allow a basic amount of food for the population to ensure that a hunger crisis does not develop in the Gaza Strip.”
⭕️ UPDATE: Operation Gideon’s Chariots
Over the past day, IDF troops struck over 160 terror targets in Gaza including an operations center and an anti-tank missile post.
♦️Northern Gaza: Terrorist cells, anti-tank missile launch posts and military structures were struck.… pic.twitter.com/RsAFmyOQGr
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 19, 2025
Despite the renewed military campaign, Netanyahu indicated that Israel remains open to a possible agreement with Hamas—under strict terms.
“Even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal … which would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip,” his office said.
So far, Hamas has rejected these conditions, leaving prospects for a ceasefire uncertain. The return to full-scale combat operations further complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional actors, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, to broker a sustainable end to the conflict.
The latest developments underscore the widening gap between Israel’s military objectives and the humanitarian toll of the conflict, as Western and regional powers continue to call for a path forward that avoids further escalation.