CNN
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Israeli forces say they have launched the first phase of a new, massive attack in Gaza with a development that developed on the same day President Donald Trump concluded a visit to the region without securing a ceasefire contract.
“In the past day, the IDF (Israel Defence Force) launched and mobilized a massive attack to seize the strategic areas of the Gaza Strip. As part of the expansion of the “Tanks of Gideon” and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, all the targets of the war in Gaza, including the defeat of Hamas and defeat.
“The Southern Command IDF forces will continue to work to protect Israeli citizens and realize the goals of the war,” the military added.
The development comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that he would be ousted south after receiving approval for an expanded military operation that Gaza’s population described as a plan to “conquer” the territory.
On Thursday, Israeli forces intensified operations across Gaza, killing more than 100 people and pledging to continue bombing.
According to Gaza Civil Defense, many of the victims were in Jabaria in northern Gaza and in Karn Yunis in the south.
Netanyahu has pledged to eradicate Hamas with a strategy that will keep more territory in Gaza in Hamas and push the entire civilians into smaller parts of the South.
The new Israeli attacks are among what appears to be increasing differences between the US and Israeli governments. Trump last week said he ended the “brutal war” in Gaza and did not visit Israel during his tour of the Middle East this week.
He also bypassed Israel twice this month to reach bilateral deals with regional extremist groups. Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage last week, and the Houtis agreed to stop firing on American ships in the Red Sea, pledging to continue the fight against Israel.
On Wednesday, Trump denied Israel was on the sidelines. “This is good for Israel,” he said.
But on Thursday he said he wanted the US to “take” Gaza and turn it into a “free zone.”
“I have the concept of Gaza. I think it’s very good. Let’s make it a free zone, let the US participate, just a free zone,” Trump said in Qatar.
The latest Israeli business comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of deaths in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 2023 has exceeded 53,000.
Israel launched a war after Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a surprising attack on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. The attack marked the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s history.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
