Israel’s military announced on Tuesday that it had broadened its operations across the Gaza Strip, as residents reported intensified gunfire and shelling. This escalation comes just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump and top American security officials.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire — including appeals from Trump, who is expected to discuss a potential truce during Netanyahu’s upcoming visit — Israel’s military campaign against the Palestinian militant group Hamas has continued unabated. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, Israeli forces killed 17 people on Tuesday alone.
The Israeli army told AFP that its operations were focused on dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure, stating it had “expanded its operations to additional areas within the Gaza Strip, eliminating dozens of terrorists and dismantling hundreds of terror infrastructure sites both above and below ground.”
Residents from various parts of Gaza described a worsening situation. Raafat Halles, 39, from the Shujaiya district of Gaza City, said, “Air strikes and shelling have intensified over the past week,” adding that tanks have been steadily advancing. He expressed suspicion over the timing of the military’s escalations, saying, “Every time negotiations or a potential ceasefire are mentioned, the army escalates crimes and massacres on the ground.”
Amer Daloul, a 44-year-old from Gaza City, reported increasing clashes between Israeli forces and militants, noting that his family had to flee their tent at dawn due to heavy, indiscriminate gunfire and shelling. In Rafah, a city in the southern part of the territory, Mohammed Abdel Aal, 41, stated that tanks were “present in most parts of town.”
Deadly Aid Distribution Clashes
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported that eight people were killed near aid distribution centres in central and southern Gaza. One person was killed and 50 injured when Israeli tanks and drones allegedly opened fire near the Wadi Gaza Bridge, where crowds had gathered to receive aid.
In response, the Israeli military claimed its forces had only fired warning shots to deter individuals approaching troops and said it was unaware of any injuries but would review the incident. Another person was reportedly killed near a separate aid centre in Rafah.
Due to ongoing media restrictions and restricted access to many areas of Gaza, AFP has been unable to independently verify the reported casualty figures.
Humanitarian concerns have also been raised regarding the current aid delivery method. A coalition of 169 aid organizations issued a statement on Monday condemning the new U.S.- and Israeli-supported aid scheme, which they described as forcing desperate civilians to cross dangerous, active conflict zones only to face chaos and violence. They have called for a return to the former UN-led aid distribution system, which ceased in March following Israel’s full blockade of humanitarian assistance amid stalled truce talks with Hamas.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which administers the new aid scheme, has distanced itself from reports of violence near its aid centres.
Civilian Casualties in Seafront Cafe Strike
Israeli forces have also launched a review into a strike on a coastal cafe in Gaza that occurred on Monday. The military claimed the strike targeted militants, but Gaza’s civil defence said it resulted in 24 civilian deaths.
Maher Al-Baqa, 40, the brother of the cafe’s owner, told AFP that several of his family members, including two nephews, were among the dead. “It’s one of the most well-known cafes on the Gaza coast, frequented by educated youth, journalists, artists, doctors, engineers, and hardworking people,” he said. “They used to feel free and safe there — it was like a second home to them.”
The military defended the action, stating it had taken measures “to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance.”
Netanyahu Eyes Diplomatic Opportunities Amid Rising Pressure
Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Washington appears tied to both military and diplomatic aims. He previously stated that Israel’s campaign against Iran had opened new “opportunities,” including prospects for freeing the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: “Taking advantage of the success is no less important than achieving the success.”
As pressure mounts for Israel to bring an end to the prolonged and devastating conflict — now spanning more than 20 months — Hamas has signaled a willingness to reach a permanent ceasefire. Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP, “The group is ready to agree to any proposal if it will lead to an end to the war, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of occupation forces.”
However, despite the statements from both sides, no significant diplomatic breakthrough has yet been reported.
