Israel mobilises full infantry, armoured brigades as Gaza offensive intensifies

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have deployed all their active infantry and armoured brigades to Gaza, as Israel steps up its large-scale military offensive in the region, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Earlier, the IDF announced it struck over 100 targets within a 24-hour period, targeting sites it said were linked to Hamas infrastructure.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 79 bodies from Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals, though this number excludes casualties from northern Gaza, where hospitals remain inaccessible due to Israeli troops encircling the area and blocking access. 

Tragically, nine of the ten children of Dr. Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, were among the victims. Najjar was on duty when an Israeli airstrike hit her home. She rushed back to find her family’s house engulfed in flames. Her husband suffered severe injuries, and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, is in critical condition. The nine children killed ranged from 7 months to 12 years old, with two still trapped under rubble. 

Since Israel intensified its offensive on March 18 to pressure Hamas into disarming and releasing 58 Israeli hostages, Gaza’s death toll has reached 3,747, according to local health officials. Hamas has stated it will only release the hostages in exchange for the release of additional Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected these conditions, vowing to maintain control over Gaza and facilitate what he calls the voluntary relocation of much of the Palestinian population. The campaign has included a blockade of Gaza, home to over 2 million people, since early March, raising fears of famine. The first aid trucks entered Gaza this week. 

Since easing the blockade, Israel reports that 388 aid trucks have entered Gaza, though Palestinian aid groups dispute this figure, claiming only 119 trucks have passed through the Karem Shalom crossing. Gaza’s Health Ministry further reported that the overall death toll since October 7, 2023—when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people—now stands at 53,901. This figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.

By Naila Huseynova