Israel-Hamas War

Bombings and tanks in the Gaza Strip: for Palestinians, a new exodus to the south

The IDF ground forces began Operation Gideon's Chariots in the Gaza Strip, from north to south. This was reported by the Israeli army.

18 May 2025Aggiornato il 18 maggio 2025, ore 20:32

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Key points

Israeli tanks in the Gaza Strip: first target Khan Younis
Idf chief: "Flexibility for hostage deal, but war continues"
Israel calls for release of 10 live abductees for 100 lifers
Israel: "Civilians go to Al-Mawasi before new Gaza attack"
Media: "Humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza resumed from 24 May"
Dead Mohammed Sinwar
Health Minister: 'All hospitals in northern Gaza out of service'

2' min read

Israeli tanks in the Gaza Strip: first target Khan Younis

The IDF ground forces began Operation Gideon's Chariots in the Gaza Strip, from north to south. This is reported by the Israeli army. Gaza social media are reporting the advance of Israeli military vehicles, accompanied by "heavy artillery shelling" and air strikes northeast of al-Fakhari, in the eastern part of Khan Younis.

Health Minister: 'All hospitals in northern Gaza out of service'

The Gaza Strip Health Ministry announced today that "all public hospitals" in the north of the Palestinian enclave are "out of service" after the increasing "siege" by the Israeli military around the Indonesian hospital made it "impossible for patients, medical staff and supplies to reach it".

"With the destruction of the Beit Hanoun hospital and the Kamal Adwan hospital, and now the closure of the Indonesian hospital, all public hospitals in the northern Gaza governorate are now out of service," reads the note reported by Palestinian media.

Media: 'Humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza resumed from 24 May'

According to Israeli Army Radio, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that a US company will soon start delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been completely cut off from aid for 11 weeks. Katz stated that the company 'will be able to start distributing humanitarian aid on 24 May'.

Idf chief: 'Flexibility for hostage deal, but war continues'

The Israeli Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir, stated during a visit to the northern Gaza Strip that "an agreement for the release of the hostages is not a setback, but an achievement", stressing that "the armed forces will allow flexibility to the political leadership to promote an understanding".

Zamir reiterated that the army will continue the offensive: 'We cannot go back to 7 October. We have two central objectives: to bring the hostages home and to defeat Hamas'. His words came at the start of Operation 'Chariots of Gideon'.

Israel calls for release of 10 abductees alive for 100 lifers

Israel conveyed a new proposal to Hamas this evening via mediators, reports Channel 12. Jerusalem would be prepared to release over 100 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in exchange for half of the remaining Israeli hostages.

Furthermore, the plan provides for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners arrested after 7 October, in exchange for the return of the bodies of half of the deceased hostages. The document discussed in Doha also contemplates the possibility of starting talks on ending the war, albeit without a formal Israeli commitment but with international guarantees.

Israel: "Civilians go to Al-Mawasi before new Gaza attack"

The Israeli army issued an emergency alert for residents of several areas of Gaza, including Al-Qarara, Salqa, south of Deir al-Balah and several neighbourhoods.

Residents were asked to evacuate immediately to a safer area in Al-Mawasi. The army says this is a 'final warning' before a planned attack.

Mohammed Sinwar died

The body of the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Sinwar, was reportedly found in a tunnel in Khan Younis, in the south of the Palestinian enclave.

This was reported today by the Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath, citing sources in Gaza, according to which Sinwar's body was found along with those of 10 of his associates. There is currently no confirmation from the Israeli army.

Seriously injured instead was Zakaria Sinwar, lecturer at the Islamic University and brother of Yahya and Muhammad Sinwar.