Middle East

Israel begins Gaza ground operation, kills 144 in relentless bombardment

19/05/2025

The Israeli military targets hospitals and homes in the most intense bombardment since the start of war.

May 18, 2025

The Israeli military has announced the start of extensive new ground operations throughout northern and southern Gaza on a day it has killed at least 144 people in waves of relentless strikes across the Palestinian enclave.

At least 36 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when Israeli warplanes bombed a tent camp sheltering displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Verified videos from the scene showed many bodies, including some on fire. The dead and wounded were taken to a nearby field hospital and the Nasser Medical Complex.

At least 135 people were killed on Sunday morning, including 42 in the heavily bombed northern parts of Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic. Five journalists were also among the victims when their homes were bombed.

At least 464 Palestinians have been killed in the past week as the Israeli military prepared to significantly intensify its ground invasion of the Palestinian territory despite international criticism. At least 53,339 Palestinians have been killed and 121,034 wounded since the start of the war in October 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

The Israeli army on Sunday confirmed the start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which will involve regular and reserve soldiers of the Southern Command leading the ground invasion of both northern and southern Gaza, backed by the air force.

It reported attacking more than 670 places in Gaza over the past week and claimed all were “Hamas targets” located both above and beneath the ground. Israel has been accused of disproportionately targeting civilians in Gaza, including displaced families.

‘Thousands of sick and wounded could die’

Among the targets have been three major hospitals, adding to the systematic targeting of healthcare facilities across the enclave that has now put three hospitals out of commission this week alone.

The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was rendered nonoperational on Sunday after the Israeli army laid siege to it beginning at dawn. Marwan al-Sultan, the director of the facility, which was the last functioning public hospital in the north, described the situation as “catastrophic” and called on international organisations to press for medical teams’ safety.

Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told Al Jazeera that the bombing of the Indonesian Hospital is severely impacting chances of survival for those in need of medical care.

Thousands of sick and wounded people could die, he warned, adding that blood donations are urgently needed.

Dr Muhammad Zaqout, the director general of hospitals in Gaza, condemned “Israel’s systematic measures against hospitals”.

“Israel deliberately kills wounded people by preventing them from reaching hospitals and directly targets patients, the wounded and medical staff inside hospitals,” he told Al Jazeera.

He said al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza’s Jabalia and European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza have also been bombed, endangering patients and medical staff.

Hamas said in a statement early on Sunday that the attacks on displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis marked a “brutal crime” that was a flagrant violation of international laws and norms.

“By granting the terrorist occupation government political and military cover, the United States administration bears direct responsibility for this insane escalation in the targeting of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and the elderly,” the Palestinian group said, also condemning the “ongoing persecution and killing” of media workers.

Israel: Deal to ‘end’ war must include exile of Hamas

On Saturday, both Israel and Hamas confirmed that more mediated talks were under way in Qatar.

Israel emphasised that the talks are being held with no conditions, including the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which it has completely blocked since March 2 despite looming famine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled on Sunday that his government may be open to either a partial or a comprehensive agreement but only under strict conditions.

“Even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal – whether according to the Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting, which would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip,” his office said in a statement, referring to White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

His office also slammed former Israeli negotiator Oren Setter, who resigned from the team in October and said in a February interview that Netanyahu had squandered two opportunities last year that would have released captives in exchange for ending the war.

Setter, a retired brigadier general, criticised Netanyahu on Sunday, telling the public broadcaster Kan that he is concerned the government will once again “miss the opportunity” of a comprehensive agreement in favour of a potential partial deal.

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday called on Netanyahu to pull the negotiating team back from Doha and refrain from signing any deal with Hamas. He insisted that Hamas must be completely defeated, fulfilling a war goal set out by Israel from the start.