Israeli strikes kill at least 58 Palestinians overnight

17/5/2025 17:05

Israel's airforce killed at least 58 Palestinians in new attacks on Gaza overnight, local health authorities said on Saturday, as the country appeared set to press ahead with a new ground offensive.



More than 300 Gazans have been killed in Israeli strikes since Thursday, according to local health authorities, one of the deadliest phases of bombardment since a truce collapsed in March. The latest strikes came after U.S. President Donald Trump ended his Middle East tour on Friday with no apparent progress towards a new ceasefire.



"Since midnight, we have received 58 martyrs, while a large number of victims remain under the rubble. The situation inside the hospital is catastrophic," said the director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, Marwan Al-Sultan.



Israel's military said on Saturday it is conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing troops as part of preparations to expand operations in the Gaza Strip and achieve "operational control" in areas of the Palestinian enclave.



The escalation, which includes the build-up of armoured forces along the border, is part of the initial stages of "Operation Gideon's Wagons", which Israel says is aimed at defeating Hamas and getting its hostages back.



An Israeli defence official said earlier this month that the operation would not be launched before Trump concluded his visit to the Middle East.