Israel launched a new large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip called “Gideon’s Chariots”, the official goal of which is called the release of hostages and the destruction of the Hamas group. About this informs Times of Israel.
On May 16, Israel carried out airstrikes on Gaza and withdrew its ground forces to the borders of the enclave. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the start of large-scale operations and the mobilization of troops to establish control over certain areas of the Sector as part of the first phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.
Further plans include expanding the campaign to “achieve all the objectives of the war in Gaza,” including the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas. Before the shelling began, the IDF ordered the evacuation of thousands of residents of the northern part of the enclave. According to Al Jazeera, at least 115 Palestinians were killed in the morning of May 16 as a result of the strikes.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the new offensive was aimed at defeating Hamas and that Israeli forces would not “enter and then withdraw” from Gaza.
According to the published plan, the population of Gaza “will be moved for its own protection” to the southern areas. At the same time, Israel has been keeping the Gaza Strip under a complete blockade for more than two months, not letting humanitarian or commercial cargo through.
Tel Aviv has accused Hamas of stealing aid meant for civilians and is blocking deliveries to pressure the group into releasing Israeli hostages. At the same time, some international organizations accuse Israel of using hunger as an instrument of war, which is considered a war crime. The Global Hunger Monitor has warned that as many as half a million people could starve to death — roughly a quarter of the enclave’s population.
