Israel carried out a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 93 people and injuring hundreds, according to Gaza바카라™s Health Ministry.
Al jazeera reported that the strikes targeted areas in both northern and southern Gaza, including the Jabaliya refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes were aimed at anti-tank missile posts, observation compounds, and other military infrastructure. According to Reuters, these operations were described by Israeli officials as preparatory actions ahead of a broader campaign intended to pressure Hamas to release 58 hostages still held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
In northern Gaza, residents were seen evacuating the Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya areas following the strikes. In southern Gaza, multiple strikes were reported on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and in Khan Younis.
On the same day, Israel launched strikes on two ports in Yemen. The Israeli military stated the ports were used by the Houthi group to transport weapons. The Houthis바카라™ media outlet Al-Masirah confirmed the attacks but did not provide further information. Israeli defense sources reported intercepting several missiles launched from Yemen during U.S. President Donald Trump바카라™s visit to the Gulf region as stated by Washington Post.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated earlier this week that Israeli forces would escalate operations in Gaza to achieve the objective of dismantling Hamas. An unnamed Israeli official said the airstrikes were also intended to signal urgency in ongoing hostage negotiations in Qatar.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251. Since then, over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, according to Gaza바카라™s Health Ministry. Nearly 3,000 of those deaths have occurred since Israel ended a ceasefire on March 18.
Among the hostages still held in Gaza, Israel estimates that at least 23 may still be alive. Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage, was released earlier this week and has been discharged from hospital care as reported by The New York Times.
Meanwhile, Gaza has entered its third month under a complete blockade, with food, fuel, and medical supplies prevented from entering. In Khan Younis, reports indicated growing desperation at charity food distribution centers.
A new U.S.-backed organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, announced plans to begin aid deliveries before the end of the month. The group includes former U.S. military personnel and humanitarian officials. However, several international aid agencies, including the United Nations, have stated they will not participate in the new delivery system.
Earlier, Israeli airstrikes killed over a hundred people across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, May 15, when Palestinians commemorated Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian society when the State of Israel was founded in 1948.
