According to Reuters, local health authorities in Gaza reported that the latest Israeli strikes killed at least 58 people overnight, bringing the death toll to over 300 since Thursday.
On Friday, Trump acknowledged his concern about the escalating conflict. “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving,” the president said.
In the early hours of Saturday, Palestinian media reported that Israeli ground troops had advanced toward Deir al-Balah, one of the few areas in Gaza where ground troops have not yet operated in during the war.
Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that recent Israeli strikes had targeted Mohammed Sinwar, the presumed leader of Hamas in Gaza and brother of the deceased former leader, Yahya Sinwar, who planned the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Israeli intelligence believes that Sinwar was in the targeted area at the time of the attack but has no further information.
The new military operation in Gaza comes after reported differences between Israel and Trump, who did not visit Israel during his trip to the region.