Gaza City, May 17 (RHC)-- Air strikes have reportedly killed hundreds of people in Gaza as Israel intensified its bombardment in line with a plan for “conquest” of the enclave.

Gaza’s civil defence agency said that at least 50 people were killed in Israeli strikes overnight, adding to 143 reported to have been killed the previous day. The casualties pushed the total death toll in the Palestinian territory since Israel launched its onslaught on October 7, 2023 to more than 53,000.

In response, Hamas called on the international community to hold Israel to account for what it described as a “barbaric escalation.”  The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a promise to push ahead with a promised escalation in pursuit of his aim to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian armed group that governs Gaza.

That follows an announcement by Netanyahu last week that the military campaign would be intensified should Hamas fail to agree a deal to release the remaining captives by the time United States President Donald Trump finished his tour of the Middle East.

The humanitarian crisis in the enclave is building with an Israeli blockade of the territory now in its third month.  However, Israeli officials suggested last week that plans include the “conquest” and full military occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, and potentially a bid to push Palestinians out of the enclave – a suggestion also put forward by Trump.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 53,010 Palestinians and wounded 119,919, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.  The Strip’s Government Media Office has updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of others missing under the rubble are presumed dead.  The war followed an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 250 taken captive.

[ SOURCE: AP and NEWS AGENCIES ]