The Israeli military said Sunday it had launched “extensive ground operations” across northern and southern Gaza, escalating its offensive as Palestinian health officials reported at least 130 people killed in overnight airstrikes.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), it carried out an initial wave of strikes on more than 670 Hamas targets in Gaza over the past week in support of “Gideon’s Chariots,” its new ground operation aimed at establishing “operational control” in parts of the enclave.
The start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots: Operating to free our hostages, stop Hamas and protect our people. pic.twitter.com/R5fEmKoHDK
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) May 18, 2025
Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 464 Palestinians were killed in the past week. An estimated 130 more were killed overnight, adding to the mounting toll.
In Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital said 48 people died in one night of strikes. Two separate airstrikes in Jabaliya killed a total of 19 people. Nine members of one family were killed in one strike. Another hit a home and killed 10, including seven children.
On Sunday, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Indonesian Hospital, one of the largest partially operational medical facilities in northern Gaza, had stopped functioning due to Israeli fire.
The #Indonesian Hospital’s director, said the facility is now under siege and anyone who moves is being shot at. Even the intensive care unit has taken gunfire’ #Gaza
He calls on International Organisations @DrTedros to protect the Medical Staff…we all know what happens next pic.twitter.com/op8I7TnISn
— Joanna Wren (@1962Wren) May 18, 2025
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would allow a “basic” amount of food into Gaza to prevent famine. However, he provided no details on how the aid would be delivered. Israel had imposed a full blockade on humanitarian aid since March 2.
These developments in Gaza come amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar, with Israel focused on securing a deal for the release of hostages while aiming to weaken Hamas through disarmament and the exile of its leaders. Hamas, on the other hand, demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a clear plan to end the war.
Sources from both sides told Reuters that no progress had been made in the latest round of indirect talks.
Since the conflict began, local officials report that over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with most of the population displaced.
