JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has launched a sweeping new offensive in the Gaza Strip, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the campaign seeks to seize and hold strategic territory in the enclave.

According to Hamas-run civil defense officials, Israeli airstrikes have killed around 250 people since Thursday.

The IDF said it had struck over 150 targets in Gaza within 24 hours and vowed to continue operations “until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home.”

The operation was announced on the IDF’s Hebrew-language X account but not referenced by name in its English posts.

The offensive comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to restore the ceasefire and ease the blockade it imposed in March, which has severely limited the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, a claim Israel disputes.

US President Donald Trump, who concluded a Middle East tour on Friday, acknowledged that “a lot of people were starving” in Gaza.

According to Israeli media, the operation’s goals include clearing northern Gaza of Hamas militants, preventing the group from intercepting aid, and forcibly relocating civilians to the southern parts of the strip.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticized the campaign, warning that it could constitute a breach of international law and potentially amount to “ethnic cleansing.”

He cited the destruction of neighborhoods, forced displacement of civilians, and lack of humanitarian access.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, British surgeon Dr. Victoria Rose described the deteriorating conditions at Nasser Hospital. “The children are really thin,” she told the BBC.

“A lot of them have significant burn injuries, and with this level of malnutrition, they’re far more prone to infection.”

A UN-backed assessment released Monday confirmed that Gaza’s population faces a “critical risk” of famine. — BBC