Israel ramps up Gaza strikes, kills over 250 including women and children

CAIRO – 16 May 2025: Israeli forces have ramped up strikes on Gaza, killing more than 250 people, many of them women and children, bringing the total fatalities since the start of the war 19 months ago to over 53,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.

Hamas reported in a statement that the recent strikes across northern and southern Gaza have killed entire families, condemning the United Nations and its agencies for their “complete absence of any effective action” in response to these “acts of genocide.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in May to escalate the offensive in Gaza, aiming to seize the enclave indefinitely despite widespread outcry.

Israel is pressuring Hamas to accept a temporary weeks-long ceasefire that facilitates a prisoner exchange and allows humanitarian aid deliveries with Netanyahu pledging to resume attacks once the truce ends to “destroy” Hamas.

Hamas, which still holds 58 captives—at least 20 of whom are presumed alive—stated it will only agree to a prisoner swap if Israel approves a permanent ceasefire and withdraws its troops from the entire enclave.

Tel Aviv is intensifying pressure on Hamas this week as Doha hosts rounds of indirect talks between Hamas and Israeli officials, led by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Direct US-Hamas talks resulted in Hamas releasing US-Israeli captive Edan Alexander on Monday after more than 580 days in captivity since October 7, 2023.

Hamas handed over captive Edan Alexander, the last US captive held by the movement in Gaza, to the Red Cross to then be transported to Israel on Monday afternoon, after reaching an agreement between the US administration and the movement to release the captive for allowing the… pic.twitter.com/qLdrmRlWVX

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 12, 2025

Hamas described Alexander’s release as part of its commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people by halting aggression and opening crossings for humanitarian aid.

In a statement on Thursday, Hamas expressed its expectation for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza immediately, based on agreements reached with the US and communicated to mediators following Alexander's release.

The group warned that any delay could hinder a potential prisoner exchange deal.

Hamas also expressed its anticipation of a call for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive negotiations on all issues aimed at achieving regional security and stability in line with these understandings.

The US is leading efforts to resume aid to Gaza through a US-backed aid foundation, despite the UN's reluctance to collaborate due to concerns that this newly-established foundation may not adhere to the principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized the plan as a “fig leaf for further violence and displacement” of Palestinians in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump said his administration “shares the hope of a future of safety and dignity for the Palestinian people,” as he addressed the US-Gulf summit, held in Riyadh on Wednesday#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/nn4Nlnkk7h

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 14, 2025

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced on Thursday that it will begin aid deliveries to Gaza by the end of May, stating that Israel has agreed to resume aid following a blockade lasting over two months, according to media reports.

The GHF asserted that Tel Aviv has approved “the flow of transitional aid into Gaza under existing mechanisms” until the construction of Safe Distribution Sites (SDSs) is completed, although this will take time.

Israel violated a ceasefire on March 18, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US two months earlier, which had allowed thousands of humanitarian aid trucks to enter the hunger-stricken enclave and resulted in the release of 38 captives, 30 of whom were alive.