Escalation in Gaza Amid Hopes for Ceasefire Fade Following Trump’s Regional Visit

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Escalation in Gaza Amid Hopes for Ceasefire Fade Following Trump’s Regional Visit

 

Israel intensified its military campaign across the Gaza Strip on Friday, launching dozens of airstrikes that, according to local health officials, killed at least 108 people. The escalation followed a deadly week in Gaza, where more than 130 people had already been reported killed. The figures come from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian casualties and those of combatants.

 

The latest wave of attacks coincided with the conclusion of U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Although he visited three Gulf nations, Trump did not stop in Israel during his trip, sparking speculation about the potential for renewed diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire or easing the blockade on humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

 

Speaking to journalists in Abu Dhabi at the end of his tour, Trump acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in the region. “We’re looking at Gaza,” he said. “And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”

 

In the southern part of Gaza, Israeli forces targeted areas on the edges of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis. According to Israeli officials, the airstrikes were aimed at anti-tank missile sites and other military infrastructure. One Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attacks were part of preparations for a broader military offensive. The official warned that unless Hamas releases the 58 hostages still held in Gaza since the group’s October 2023 surprise assault, a large-scale operation would commence.

 

Earlier in the week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to ramp up military pressure on Hamas. In a statement released by his office on Tuesday, Netanyahu declared that Israeli forces were just days away from entering Gaza “with great strength to complete the mission.”

 

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Friday that recent strikes were also aimed at Mohammed Sinwar, whom Israel believes to be the current leader of Hamas’ military wing in Gaza. There has been no confirmation on whether the strikes were successful in eliminating Sinwar. He is the brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader in Gaza and one of the key architects of the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the current war.

 

Of the remaining hostages believed to be in Gaza, Israeli intelligence estimates that up to 23 may still be alive. However, concerns have been raised over the health and whereabouts of at least three of them.

 

Amid the deepening crisis, a new U.S.-backed humanitarian organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, announced plans to begin delivering aid before the end of the month. The group’s statement said it had secured key agreements from Israeli authorities and named several U.S. military veterans, ex-humanitarian officials, and private security contractors as part of its leadership team.

 

However, the initiative has drawn criticism from the broader humanitarian sector. The United Nations and several aid organizations have signaled they will not take part, citing that the Foundation's framework does not meet established humanitarian principles and is unlikely to fulfill the urgent needs of the civilian population in Gaza.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from AP News  2025-05-17