By WAFAA SHURAFA and BASSEM MROUE
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched dozens of airstrikes throughout northern and southern Gaza on Friday — assaults that native well being officers say killed 108 individuals, largely ladies and kids, and which Israeli officers described as a prelude to a bigger marketing campaign aimed toward pressuring Hamas to launch hostages.
Israel additionally struck two ports in Yemen on Friday that it stated have been utilized by the Houthi militant group to switch weapons.
The strikes throughout the Gaza Strip adopted days of assaults there that killed greater than 130 individuals, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, and got here as U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up a go to to the area that included stops in three Gulf states however not Israel.
There had been widespread hopes that Trump’s journey might improve the probabilities of a ceasefire deal, or the resumption of humanitarian assist to Gaza, which Israel has prevented for greater than two months. The Trump administration can be attempting to barter a nuclear cope with Iran, which backs a number of anti-Israel militant teams, together with Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.
Talking to reporters in Abu Dhabi on the ultimate day of his journey, Trump stated he was seeking to resolve a spread of worldwide crises, together with Gaza. “We’re taking a look at Gaza,” he stated. “And we’ve bought to get that taken care of. Lots of people are ravenous. Lots of people are — there’s loads of dangerous issues occurring.”
The Gaza Well being Ministry stated 31 youngsters and 27 ladies have been killed in Friday’s airstrikes, and that a whole bunch extra have been wounded.
In southern Gaza, Israel struck the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the town of Khan Younis. It stated it hit anti-tank missile posts and navy buildings.
In northern Gaza, the assaults despatched individuals fleeing from the Jabaliya refugee camp and the city of Beit Lahiya. Israel stated it eradicated a number of militants who have been working in an statement compound.
Darkish smoke was seen rising over Jabaliya as individuals grabbed what they may of their belongings and fled on donkey carts, by automobile and foot.
“We bought out of the home with issue, killing and demise, we didn’t take something,” stated Feisal Al-Attar, who was displaced from Beit Lahiya.
There have been no rapid reviews of casualties after the strikes on Yemen, which have been acknowledged on the Houthis’ satellite tv for pc channel. Israel’s navy stated that in Trump’s go to to the area it had intercepted a number of missiles fired from Yemen towards Israeli airspace.
“There will likely be extra to come back,” stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met Friday with prime navy officers overseeing the strikes.
Netanyahu vows to step up struggle
An Israeli official stated the strikes in Gaza on Friday have been preparatory actions within the lead-up to a bigger operation and to ship a message to Hamas that it’s going to start quickly if there isn’t an settlement to launch the 58 hostages nonetheless in Gaza since Hamas’ October 2023 assault that launched the struggle. The official was not approved to temporary media and spoke on situation of anonymity
The identical official stated that Cupboard members have been assembly Friday to evaluate progress in ceasefire talks, and to determine on subsequent steps.
Netanyahu vowed earlier within the week to escalate stress on Hamas, with the goal of destroying the group that governs Gaza. In feedback launched by Netanyahu’s workplace Tuesday, the prime minister stated Israeli forces have been days away from coming into Gaza “with nice power to finish the mission … It means destroying Hamas.”
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz confirmed Friday that strikes in Gaza earlier within the week focused a key Hamas chief in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar, though there was no phrase on whether or not he was hit. He’s the brother of the slain former chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar — a mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023, assault.
‘Historic alternative’
In Israel, households of hostages stated they awoke Friday with “heavy hearts” to reviews of elevated assaults and referred to as on Netanyahu to “be part of arms” with Trump’s efforts to free hostages. On Monday, Israeli-American Edan Alexander was launched after backdoor U.S.-Hamas diplomacy.
“Lacking this historic alternative for a deal to convey the hostages house can be a convincing failure that will likely be remembered in infamy perpetually,” the households stated in an announcement launched by the hostage discussion board, which helps them.
Within the Oct. 7 assault, Hamas-led terrorists killed 1,200 individuals and kidnapped 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed greater than 53,000 Palestinians, a lot of them ladies and kids, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say what number of have been combatants. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by the US, Canada, and European Union.
Nearly 3,000 have been killed since Israel broke a ceasefire on March 18, the ministry stated.
Of the hostages that stay in Gaza, Israel believes as many as 23 are nonetheless alive, though Israeli authorities have expressed concern for the standing of three of these.
Gaza blockade enters third month
Dozens of Palestinians in Khan Younis lined up at a charity kitchen to acquire meals Friday in a scene that rapidly turned chaotic because the enclave entered its third month of Israel’s assist blockade.
A number of youngsters behind a steel partition screamed and cried out for meals. At one level, the scene descended into chaos as charity kitchen employees struggled to push individuals again into line.
Palestinians battle to get donated meals at a neighborhood kitchen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Might 15, 2025. (AP Picture/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Palestinians battle to get donated meals at a neighborhood kitchen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Might 15, 2025. (AP Picture/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Some employees have been attacked as the gang surged ahead, urgent towards the partition and lunging towards the big pots of rice to seize no matter they may.
Israel’s blockade is stopping meals, gasoline drugs and all different provides from coming into, worsening a humanitarian disaster. Israel says the blockade goals to stress Hamas to launch the hostages it nonetheless holds.
“Our solely hope was that Donald Trump’s go to to the Center East would lead to options and one way or the other open crossings to usher in humanitarian help as quickly as potential into the Gaza Strip, however the go to is nearly over and never a drop of water or bread entered Gaza,” stated Saqer Jamal, a displaced man from Rafah who was on the kitchen.
Earlier this week, a brand new humanitarian group that has U.S. backing to take over assist supply stated it expects to start operations earlier than the tip of the month — after what it describes as key agreements from Israeli officers.
An announcement from the group, referred to as the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, recognized a number of U.S. navy veterans, former humanitarian coordinators and safety contractors that it stated would lead the supply effort.
Many within the humanitarian neighborhood, together with the U.N., stated the system doesn’t align with humanitarian ideas and gained’t have the ability to meet the wants of Palestinians in Gaza and gained’t take part it.
Mroue reported from Beirut. Related Press writers Tia Goldenberg and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
Comply with AP’s struggle protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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