This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7geg3lvz1o

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Israel launches major offensive as Gaza rescuers say scores killed Hamas says new Gaza talks have begun, hours after Israel launched major offensive
(about 2 hours later)
Smoke rises after an Israeli attack on Tel al Zaatar, Gaza City on 15 May, 2025. Smoke rises after an Israeli attack on Tel al Zaatar, Gaza City on 15 May, 2025
Israel's military has announced the launch of a major offensive aimed at defeating Hamas and securing the freedom of remaining hostages in Gaza. Hamas says its negotiators have opened a new round of talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza, hours after Israel launched a major offensive.
The Israeli Defense Forces said on its Hebrew X account that it had mobilised troops for "Operation Gideon's Chariots" to seize "strategic areas" of the strip. Taher al-Nounou, an adviser to the head of Hamas, told the BBC a new round of negotiations had officially begun in Doha on Saturday. There were no preconditions from either side, and all issues were on the table for discussion.
The Hamas-run civil defence says Israeli attacks have killed around 250 people since Thursday, while Reuters news agency reported at least 58 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes overnight according to local authorities. Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said Hamas negotiators were returning to indirect talks in Qatar to seek a deal on the hostages.
Israel imposed an aid blockade on the strip in March after the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. Katz called the move a "departure from the recalcitrant position they had taken up until that moment".
Donald Trump, the US president, said on Friday that "a lot of people were starving" in Gaza. It came after Israel's military said on its Hebrew X account that troops had been mobilised for "Operation Gideon's Chariots" to seize "strategic areas" of Gaza and free hostages.
The Israeli military did not use the operational name in similar posts on its English-language X account. In similar posts on its English-language X account, it said it would not stop operating "until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home", and that it had "struck over 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" in 24 hours.
It said it would not stop operating "until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home", and had "struck over 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" in 24 hours. The Times of Israel said that "Gideon's Chariots" - a reference to a biblical warrior - would see the IDF take and control territory, move civilians to the south of the Strip, attack Hamas, and prevent it from taking control of aid supplies.
Israel has intensified its bombardment and built up armoured forces along the border despite growing international pressure to resume ceasefire talks and end its blockade.
The Times of Israel said that "Gideon's Chariots" - a reference to a biblical warrior - would see the IDF take and control territory, move civilians to the south of the strip, attack Hamas and prevent it from taking control of aid supplies.
Jeremy Bowen: Netanyahu's plan risks dividing Israel, killing Palestinians and horrifying world
Ros Atkins: How world leaders are responding to Israel's blockade
Thousands of Israeli troops, including soldiers and reservists, are expected to enter Gaza as the operation ramps up in the coming days.Thousands of Israeli troops, including soldiers and reservists, are expected to enter Gaza as the operation ramps up in the coming days.
Israel imposed an aid blockade on the Strip in March after the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that "a lot of people were starving" in Gaza.
Rescuers from the Hamas-run civil defence, Gaza's main emergency service, said Israeli attacks have killed around 250 people since Thursday.
Reuters news agency reported at least 146 Palestinians had been killed over the past 24 hours and many more injured, citing local health authorities.
Jeremy Bowen: Netanyahu's plan risks dividing Israel, killing Palestinians and horrifying world
'My children go to sleep hungry,' Gazans tell the BBC
Residents in many parts of northern and central Gaza have been told to leave their homes or places of shelter - an order aid workers say is almost impossible because many have already been repeatedly made homeless during the war.Residents in many parts of northern and central Gaza have been told to leave their homes or places of shelter - an order aid workers say is almost impossible because many have already been repeatedly made homeless during the war.
There are still faint but dwindling hopes that indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar may achieve a new ceasefire. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month said that Israel was preparing an "intense entry into Gaza" to capture and hold territory.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, earlier this month said that Israel was preparing an "intense entry into Gaza" to capture and hold territory. His government said it would not commence until Trump had completed a tour of the Middle East. The US president left the region on Friday.
His government said that it would not commence until Trump had completed a tour of the Middle East. The US president left the region on Friday.
Israeli tanks have been pictured near the Gaza border in Israel.Israeli tanks have been pictured near the Gaza border in Israel.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has warned that Israel's recent escalation could be considered a breach of international law.UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has warned that Israel's recent escalation could be considered a breach of international law.
"This latest barrage of bombs, forcing people to move amid the threat of intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighbourhoods, and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing," he said."This latest barrage of bombs, forcing people to move amid the threat of intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighbourhoods, and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing," he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was "troubled" by the situation.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was "troubled" by the situation.
Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon working at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, told the BBC World Service's Weekend programme that her team were "exhausted" and had all lost a "considerable amount of weight". Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon working at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, told the BBC World Service's Today programme that her team were "exhausted" and staff had lost a "considerable amount of weight".
"The children are really thin," she said. "We've got a lot of youngsters whose teeth have fallen out." "The children are really thin," she said. "We've got a lot of youngsters whose teeth have fallen out.
"A lot of them have quite significant burn injuries and with this level of malnutrition they're so much more prone to infection and they've got so much less capacity to heal.""A lot of them have quite significant burn injuries and with this level of malnutrition they're so much more prone to infection and they've got so much less capacity to heal."
A UN-backed assessment published on Monday found Gaza's population to be at "critical risk" of famine.A UN-backed assessment published on Monday found Gaza's population to be at "critical risk" of famine.
The Israeli government has repeatedly rejected claims there is a food shortage in Gaza.The Israeli government has repeatedly rejected claims there is a food shortage in Gaza.
Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Hamas still holds 58 hostages.Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Hamas still holds 58 hostages.
At least 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.At least 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Watch: Ros Atkins on...how world leaders are responding to Israel's blockade of Gaza