100 dead, rescuers say, as Israel launches new Gaza offensive

BASHAR TALEB/ AFP

Gaza's civil defence agency said 100 people were killed in strikes on Friday as the Israeli military launched a major new phase of its operations in the strip, announcing “extensive strikes” as part of what it calls "Operation Gideon’s Chariots".

Israel has intensified its bombardment and built up armoured forces along the border despite growing international pressure for it to resume ceasefire talks and end its blockade of Gaza.

Just before midnight on Friday, the Israeli military said that during the last day forces began launching extensive strikes and transferring forces to seize control over areas within the Gaza Strip.

The operation was part of "the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of achieving all the war's objectives, including the release of the abducted and the defeat of Hamas", it said in a post ion Telegram in Arabic.

A separate statement in English said the army was "mobilising troops to achieve operational control in areas of the Gaza Strip".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 5 that Israel was planning an expanded, intensive offensive against Hamas as his security cabinet approved plans that could involve seizing the entire Gaza Strip and controlling aid.

An Israeli defence official said at the time that the operation would not be launched before US President Donald Trump concluded his visit to the Middle East.

Heavy strikes were reported on Friday in the northern town of Beit Lahiya and in the Jabalia refugee camp, where Palestinian emergency services said many bodies were still buried in the rubble.

Israel dropped leaflets on Beit Lahiya ordering all residents to leave, whether they lived in tents, shelters or buildings. "Leave southwards immediately," the leaflets read.

Residents said Israeli tanks were advancing towards the southern city of Khan Younis.

Israel's military said its air force had struck more than 150 military targets across Gaza.

More from International news

  • Turkey in talks on PKK weapons handover

    Turkey is in talks with authorities in Baghdad and in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on how the PKK will hand over their weapons, President Tayyip Erdogan said following the group's decision to disband.

  • 'Let's not waste time' with US-backed Gaza aid plan: UN chief

    United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said on Friday that time should not be wasted on an alternative US-backed proposal to deliver aid to Gaza, saying the UN has a proven plan and 160,000 pallets of relief ready to enter the Palestinian enclave now.

  • Ukraine urges more pressure on Russia after drone kills nine

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Saturday for stronger sanctions on Moscow after a Russian drone killed nine bus passengers in north-eastern Ukraine just hours after the two countries held their first peace talks in three years of war.

  • Ukraine, Russia in ceasefire deadlock

    Ukraine rallied support from its Western allies on Friday after Kyiv and Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire at their first direct talks in more than three years, with Russia presenting conditions that a Ukrainian source described as "non-starters".

News

  • UAE develops drone cybersecurity guidelines

    The UAE Cybersecurity Council (CSC) announced on Saturday the development of national guidelines for drones in the country.

  • 34th Arab Summit kicks off in Baghdad

    The 34th Arab Summit opened today in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, with the participation of all Arab states and representatives from various international and regional organisations.

  • Abu Dhabi to cultivate 4 million coral colonies by 2030

    His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), has directed the cultivation of over 4 million coral colonies by 2030, covering more than 900 hectares - an initiative described as the world’s largest of its kind.