Israel Intensifies Gaza Offensive After Trump's Gulf Tour, May 17

Israel officially began intensifying its offensive in Gaza on Saturday, May 17, with 'extensive strikes' on the Palestinian territory. The Israeli army announced it had conducted these strikes, marking the start of an intensified operation in the war-torn region. This escalation comes after days of intense bombardment that resulted in hundreds of deaths. Despite growing international criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned of a forthcoming 'full force' entry into Gaza to 'complete the operation and defeat Hamas.' This warning was issued shortly after Donald Trump's Gulf tour, during which he expressed concern about hunger in Gaza. The Israeli army stated it had launched 'extensive strikes' and transferred forces to control areas of the Gaza Strip. This action is part of the initial stages of 'Operation Chariots of Gideon,' aimed at achieving all war objectives, including the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas. After a two-month truce, the Israeli army resumed its offensive on March 18, seizing large parts of Gaza. The Netanyahu government announced plans for the 'conquest' of Gaza, requiring the internal displacement of most of its 2.4 million residents. The Gaza civil defense agency reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 100 people on Friday, following reports of over 80 deaths on Wednesday and over 100 deaths on Thursday. In a hospital in Beit Lahia, residents mourned the loss of loved ones amidst scenes of chaos. Saïd Hamouda described the bombings as targeting homes where civilians were sleeping, creating an indescribable scene. Khalil al-Tatar lamented that those who survive the bombings will starve. The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in 1,218 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians. Of the 251 people kidnapped, 57 remain in Gaza, with 34 declared dead by the army. Israeli retaliatory actions have resulted in at least 53,119 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians. The main Israeli association of hostage families urged Netanyahu to seize a 'historic opportunity' for their release, potentially with Trump's assistance. Since March 2, Israeli forces have blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza, vital for its 2.4 million residents facing 'mass famine'. Following his Gulf tour, Donald Trump stated, 'We are interested in Gaza. And we are going to get that straightened out. A lot of people are starving.' Hamas has called on the U.S. to pressure Netanyahu's government to allow humanitarian aid. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, suggested the actions in Gaza may amount to ethnic cleansing. Israel denies a humanitarian crisis and accuses Hamas of stealing international aid.