May 18, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Israeli military forces, including troops and tanks, advanced on Saturday into heavily populated areas of the northern Gaza Strip that had previously been avoided in the ongoing conflict that has lasted over seven months. According to medics and residents, this incursion resulted in the deaths and injuries of numerous Palestinians. Concurrently, Israeli forces captured additional territory in Rafah, a southern city adjacent to the Egyptian border, which has seen an influx of displaced persons. This development has caused concern in both Cairo and Washington due to the initiation of a long-anticipated offensive aimed at eliminating remaining elements of the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas.
Israeli media reported that the military discovered the remains of Ron Binyamin, one of the more than 250 hostages taken by Hamas during an October 7 cross-border attack that initiated the conflict. The recovery of Binyamin’s body, along with the remains of three other hostages whose repatriation was announced on Friday, was attributed to intelligence gathered during recent incursions. Hamas has not commented on this matter.
This month, Israel has renewed military operations in parts of northern Gaza, despite previously declaring an end to major operations in January. At that time, Israel had anticipated a return to prevent Hamas from regrouping. One focus has been Jabalia, the largest of Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps. On Saturday, Israeli forces entered areas of Jabalia previously untouched by ground operations. In one incident, medics reported that 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured. The Gaza health ministry and the Civil Emergency Service stated that numerous calls about casualties could not be addressed due to the continuous ground offensive and aerial bombardment.
Ibrahim Khaled, a resident of Jabalia, described the situation as extremely dire, noting the incessant bombardment and the inability of ambulances to reach the affected areas. The Israeli military confirmed ongoing operations throughout the Gaza Strip, including in Jabalia and Rafah, targeting what it described as “terrorists and infrastructure.”
The Israeli Air Force has continued its operations, striking over 70 targets within the past day, including weapon storage facilities, military infrastructure, and personnel deemed threats to Israeli Defense Forces.
Militant groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah, claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli forces in Jabalia and Rafah using anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs, and pre-planted explosive devices. The Israeli military reported that 281 soldiers have been killed since ground incursions began on October 20.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 35,386 Palestinians since October 7. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies.
The initial Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths. Approximately 125 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza.
In Rafah, where Israeli tanks entered eastern suburbs and engaged with Palestinian fighters, residents reported continuous bombardment throughout the night. UNRWA, the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinians, indicated that nearly 800,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Israel initiated its ground operation on May 6. Israel asserts that capturing Rafah is crucial for dismantling Hamas and ensuring national security.
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