CAIRO/JERUSALEM, May 18 – The Israeli army has launched a major ground assault in the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip, significantly intensifying its military campaign in the war-torn area. The announcement comes as efforts for a truce and hostage exchange deal appear to have reached a deadlock, despite indirect negotiations taking place in Qatar between Israeli officials and representatives from Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated that this new phase, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots,” aims to establish firm operational control in targeted areas of Gaza. Over the past week, Israeli forces have reportedly conducted air and ground strikes on more than 670 sites identified as Hamas strongholds, claiming to have eliminated dozens of combatants.
In contrast, Palestinian health authorities have painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground. Overnight bombardments, they say, resulted in the deaths of at least 130 civilians, bringing the week’s death toll to over 460. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the total number of deaths since the beginning of the war has now exceeded 53,000. Many of the victims are said to be women and children, with entire families reportedly wiped from civil records due to intense aerial attacks.
Khalil Al-Deqran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s health sector, described the scale of devastation as unimaginable. “Complete families have vanished. Medical facilities are overwhelmed with injured individuals, a large number of them being children. The healthcare system is barely functioning,” he said in a phone interview. “We have reached a point where medical workers are discovering signs of life in bodies previously thought dead.”
As the military pressure intensifies, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. The closure of border crossings since early March has halted the flow of vital supplies such as medicine, fuel, and food. International observers have raised alarms about a looming famine if aid is not allowed to enter the enclave soon. Fuel shortages have crippled emergency services, with the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reporting that nearly 75% of its ambulances are out of service. Officials warn that the remaining vehicles may cease functioning entirely within 72 hours unless fuel supplies resume.
One of the most harrowing incidents of the latest bombardment occurred in Khan Younis, where Israeli strikes hit a makeshift camp for displaced residents. The assault led to a fire that destroyed several tents and killed multiple family members, including children. Medics working in the area struggled to rescue survivors amid the chaos and heavy smoke.
Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital, one of the few medical facilities still partially operational in the northern region, announced it had ceased functioning entirely due to nearby shelling. According to Israeli sources, the military is targeting what it calls “terrorist infrastructure” near such facilities. However, humanitarian groups argue that these strikes severely limit access to urgent medical care and put thousands of lives at risk.
Talks held in Doha, aimed at securing a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages, have so far yielded no tangible progress. Israeli officials have maintained a firm stance, pushing for the exile of Hamas leaders and full demilitarization of the territory—terms that Hamas has repeatedly rejected. A senior Israeli representative noted that discussions had not moved forward and reiterated that the country’s position remains unchanged.
From the Hamas side, a representative involved in the Qatar discussions said the group remains willing to release Israeli hostages, but only under conditions that include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, an end to the siege on Gaza, and the release of Palestinian detainees. The group claims that Israel is unwilling to discuss a complete cessation of the conflict.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced suggesting that Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader, may have been killed during recent Israeli operations. While Israeli authorities have not commented on the matter, and Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, such developments could further complicate negotiations. In another deeply troubling event, Zakaria Al-Sinwar—a university history lecturer and brother to key Hamas figures—was wrongly presumed dead following serious injuries from an airstrike. Medical staff later discovered he was still alive but in a life-threatening state.
The emotional toll of the ongoing conflict is also being felt deeply within Israel. Families of hostages continue to speak out against what they perceive as political gamesmanship by Israeli leadership. Einav Zangauker, the mother of a captive, voiced her frustration online, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying peace for political reasons. “This government is playing with our hearts. All we want is our children back. Every last one of them,” she pleaded.
As of now, a definitive solution to the conflict remains out of reach. Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with military operations intensifying and diplomatic efforts stagnating. Civilians on both sides continue to bear the brunt of a conflict that has already cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. The international community remains deeply concerned, but without significant shifts in policy or strategy, the path to peace remains elusive.
