Gaza City, May 18, 2025 — The Israeli military launched widespread ground operations across northern and southern Gaza on Sunday, escalating its offensive in the region. Palestinian health officials reported that overnight Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least 130 deaths, adding to a weekly toll of over 460 fatalities in the enclave.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the operations, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots,” as a strategic push to gain “operational control” over key areas. The military stated it targeted over 670 sites associated with Hamas in the past week, claiming to have neutralized dozens of fighters. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry decried the loss of entire families, with spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran stating, “The bombardment has erased countless households from existence.”
The escalation coincides with stalled indirect negotiations in Qatar between Israel and Hamas. Israeli officials reiterated demands for a truce involving the exile of Hamas leaders and Gaza’s demilitarization—conditions Hamas has consistently rejected. A Hamas representative emphasized their stance: a full Israeli withdrawal, an end to the aid blockade, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli hostages. No breakthroughs were reported from the Doha talks, which began Saturday.
Since early March, Israel has restricted medical, food, and fuel supplies into Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 people abducted. The ongoing blockade has crippled Gaza’s healthcare system, with the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza shutting down Sunday due to nearby Israeli strikes. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service warned that 75% of its ambulances are inoperable due to fuel shortages, with a complete halt possible within days.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face dire conditions, with most displaced and over 53,000 deaths reported by local authorities since the conflict’s onset. International observers have raised alarms about a potential famine. In Khan Younis, an overnight strike on a tent encampment killed and injured dozens, including women and children, leaving families in flames.
In Israel, families of hostages expressed frustration with the government’s approach. “The insistence on partial deals prolongs our agony,” said a relative of one of the 58 remaining hostages, urging a comprehensive agreement to secure their release.
Unconfirmed reports of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar’s death circulated in regional media, potentially complicating negotiations. However, Gaza medics clarified that Zakaria Al-Sinwar, a university lecturer and brother to Hamas figures, was critically injured but alive after being mistakenly placed in a morgue alongside his three children.
As the conflict deepens, Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, with children among the rising casualties. The IDF maintains that its targets are “terrorist infrastructure,” while Hamas denies Israeli claims of diverting aid. With no immediate resolution in sight, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, leaving millions in urgent need of relief.
