Gaza City: The latest military action by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip has once again put the region into panic. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 146 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in IDF air strikes and ground operations in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Hamas has announced that it has begun new talks with Israel regarding hostage release and ceasefire. This development comes amid rising tensions and diplomatic efforts in the region.
IDF action and humanitarian crisis
The IDF claimed that these attacks were carried out to target Hamas targets, including rocket launch sites and weapons depots. The Israeli military says that this action was necessary in response to Hamas recently firing 10 rockets on northern Israel. However, Gaza health officials said that the attacks also damaged residential areas and a mosque, increasing the number of civilian casualties. According to a report by Al Jazeera, 174 children and 89 women were killed in these attacks, which began on 17 May 2025.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has already deepened. The United Nations has warned that the ban imposed by Israel on the supply of food, medicines and fuel to Gaza from 2 March 2025 has brought 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation. Gaza's hospitals are filled with patients and the wounded, and there is a severe shortage of resources to evacuate people buried under the rubble.
Hamas-Israel talks begin
Amid these attacks, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nono told Reuters that new ceasefire and hostage release talks with Israel have begun in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The talks focus on the situation following a 42-day ceasefire that began in January 2025, in which Hamas released 25 hostages and Israel released 1,700 Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas has demanded that Israel agree to a full military withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, while Israel says it will continue the war until the complete destruction of Hamas' military capability and the release of all hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "The goals of military pressure on Hamas and the release of hostages are interconnected."
International reaction and criticism
These attacks have evoked sharp reactions in the international community. France has condemned the civilian casualties and demanded an immediate ceasefire. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza. On the other hand, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the UN Security Council that Hamas is responsible for the resumption of war, as it rejected ceasefire proposals.
Gaza residents say they no longer have any safe place left. A local resident, Nidal Aljanin, said, "Everyone was trying to recover from the devastation of the last months, but now the bombing has started again."
Uncertainty of the future
This fresh violence has taken place at a time when Israel has announced plans to increase its military presence in Gaza. The IDF has started calling reserve troops, raising fears of a large-scale ground operation in Gaza. On the other hand, Hamas has warned that Israel's aggression could endanger the lives of hostages.
So far, more than 52,535 Palestinians have been killed in this war that started in Gaza on 7 October 2023, while 1,200 people were killed in Israel. This war is not only a threat to regional stability, but has also become a major challenge for global diplomacy.
Conclusion
The latest action of the IDF in Gaza and the talks started between Hamas-Israel have brought a new twist in the region. The question is whether this dialogue will lead to peace, or will the people of Gaza face more devastation? The eyes of the international community are now fixed on the Doha talks and the situation in Gaza.
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