At least 100 people were killed in Gaza on Friday as Israel intensified its military campaign under a renewed offensive dubbed Operation Gideon's Chariots, according to Gaza health officials. The latest escalation marks the deadliest day in recent weeks amid what the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described as the "initial stages" of an expanded operation.

The IDF stated in an Arabic-language Telegram post that the operation aims to achieve "all the war's objectives, including the release of the abducted and the defeat of Hamas." A parallel English statement indicated that Israeli troops were being mobilized to "achieve operational control in areas of the Gaza Strip," suggesting a broader territorial campaign.

Gaza's civil defense agency reported that Friday's Israeli airstrikes alone accounted for more than 100 fatalities, while the IDF confirmed targeting over 150 "terror targets" within 24 hours. Since the resumption of hostilities on March 18, following a two-month truce, the Hamas-run health ministry reports that 2,985 people have died, bringing the overall death toll to 53,119 since October 2023.

The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting pressure both domestically and internationally to ease the blockade that has severely restricted humanitarian aid. Aid agencies are warning of critical shortages in food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies throughout Gaza.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned the renewed offensive, warning that the combination of intensified military attacks and sustained blockade could amount to an attempt at "forcible displacement of Gaza's civilian population."

The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. According to recent Israeli military updates, 57 hostages remain in Gaza, with 34 presumed dead.

As Operation Gideon's Chariots continues, concerns grow about further civilian casualties and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.