Israel Pounds Gaza With ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ Offensive as Civilian Toll Rises

Gaza Crisis 2025: Largest Assault Since October

Tensions in Gaza escalated dramatically on May 17, 2025, as Israel launched its most extensive military offensive since the October 2023 conflict. The operation, codenamed Gideon’s Chariots, aims to rescue hostages, destroy Hamas infrastructure, and drive the group out of the Gaza Strip. In just 72 hours, more than 300 Palestinians were killed, including 146 in a single day.

The assault was executed by land, air, and sea, with thousands of Israeli troops deployed. Over 150 strategic targets were struck, including communications hubs, weapons depots, and Hamas’s underground logistics tunnels.

Attacks Launched as Peace Talks Begin

Ironically, as military strikes intensified, Hamas confirmed that ceasefire negotiations had resumed in Doha, Qatar. Mediated by Qatar and the United States, the talks began without preconditions—a signal that both parties are under international pressure to reach a resolution.

Israel confirmed that Hamas had rejoined indirect talks centered on hostage releases. Around 20 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza following the cross-border raid on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered massive retaliation.

Gaza on the Brink of Humanitarian Collapse

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. A full blockade imposed by Israel since March 2025 has prevented international aid from entering. Hospitals are overwhelmed, children face severe malnutrition, and thousands have been displaced.

A British doctor stationed at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza reported children suffering from burns and life-threatening infections. The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that over 14,000 children in Gaza are in critical hunger conditions.

“We’re no longer talking about normal humanitarian needs. This is now about survival,” said a WHO representative during a virtual press briefing from Cairo.

Global Criticism: Ethnic Cleansing Concerns Rise

Behind the military operation lies growing suspicion that Israel is pursuing a strategy to make Gaza uninhabitable. Some observers have labeled it a de facto ethnic cleansing campaign. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk warned that the escalation could violate international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal opposition and pressure from hostage families urging a diplomatic—not military—solution. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, during his Middle East tour, proposed transforming Gaza into a U.S.-controlled “freedom zone,” although no concrete details have emerged.

Updated Data (as of May 17, 2025)

• Palestinians killed since October 2023: Over 53,000
• Killed in the last 72 hours: More than 300
• Targets struck in the latest offensive: Over 150
• Hostages still held by Hamas: Approximately 20

As the world watches developments in Doha, hundreds of thousands of Gazans face mounting uncertainty—caught between relentless airstrikes and fading hope for peace.

Hope Amid the Rubble

The 2025 Israel-Hamas conflict enters a new and ambiguous chapter: on one hand, intensified military brutality; on the other, a glimmer of diplomacy through renewed talks. This moment reminds us that wars are not only fought with weapons, but also won at the negotiation table.

If the Doha negotiations fail, the world could witness a humanitarian catastrophe far worse than any before. But if successful, this could mark a historic turning point for lasting peace in the Middle East.