The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it is moving toward a new stage of operations in the Gaza Strip.
“The IDF has begun conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing troops to achieve operational control in the areas of Gaza, over the past day,” the military wrote in a social media post.
According to the IDF, this is part of the preparations to expand operations and fulfill the objectives of the war, including releasing Israeli hostages in Gaza and dismantling Hamas.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, Germany and several other countries. Hamas carried out the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week vowed to continue Gaza operations “with full force.”
According to Israeli media, this would occur after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump‘s visit to the region if a new Gaza agreement had not been reached by that time.
Trump has since concluded his multi-day trip to the Gulf region, yet a new Gaza deal remains elusive.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, almost 53,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. Although Israel and the US have criticized Gaza health figures, the UN and other international bodies view them as broadly reliable.
International organizations have criticized Israel’s operations in Gaza and the blocking of aid, with the Council of Europe on Friday saying that Gaza is suffering from “deliberate starvation.”
UN rights chief Volker Türk has also criticized Israel’s attacks on Gaza as “ethnic cleansing.”