Gaza, May 16, 2025: Israeli air strikes killed at least 100 Palestinians on Friday, pushing the overall death toll in Gaza past 53,000 as Israel escalates its military campaign under what officials have described as a strategy for the “conquest” of the enclave.
Health authorities in Gaza reported that hundreds more remain trapped under the rubble, while 143 people were confirmed killed in air strikes on Thursday. Since Israel launched its offensive in October 2023—following a Hamas-led attack that left around 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage—the Palestinian death toll has continued to mount.
Hamas has urged the international community to intervene and hold Israel accountable for a “barbaric escalation.” The Israeli military has not officially commented on the latest strikes.
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s intent to intensify operations aimed at dismantling Hamas, the group that governs Gaza and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and several other countries.
Netanyahu had previously warned that the campaign would escalate if Hamas failed to release the remaining hostages before U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his four-day tour of the Middle East on Friday. Trump’s itinerary notably excluded stops in Israel or the Palestinian territories.
While there had been cautious optimism that Trump’s regional visit could help revive ceasefire talks or unlock aid flows into Gaza, those hopes have dimmed. Israel’s blockade—now entering its third month—has halted the entry of food, medicine, and other essentials, prompting aid agencies to sound alarms over a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
Reports last week indicated that Israeli officials are considering a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip and even the forced displacement of Palestinians—an idea Trump echoed in controversial remarks made during his tour. Speaking in the UAE on Friday, he said: “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.”
On Thursday, Trump floated the idea of turning Gaza into a “fr0eedom zone” under U.S. control, suggesting the United States could “take it, make it the Riviera of the Middle East”—comments that drew sharp condemnation from Palestinian officials.
“Gaza is not for sale,” said senior Hamas official Basem Naim. “It is an integral part of Palestinian land, not real estate on the open market.”
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the official death toll now stands at 53,010, with over 119,000 wounded. The Government Media Office has issued a higher figure—over 61,700—citing thousands still missing under debris and presumed dead.
Despite U.S. efforts to broker an aid mechanism via NGOs that excludes Hamas, major international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, have declined to participate. They cite concerns about impartiality and independence in aid delivery.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with Palestinians in Gaza facing starvation, collapsing health infrastructure, and widespread displacement.
