Gaza military operation underway as Israel intensifies assault on Hamas sites and territory.

The conflict in the Gaza Strip has escalated with Israeli forces launching a new military offensive on May 17, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian deaths. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes have hit more than 150 "terror targets" in Gaza, with reports of civilian casualties. The Israeli Defense Forces announced the commencement of this offensive, which has been described as a major new military campaign. The number of Palestinian deaths has been reported to be in the hundreds, with some sources citing over 150 fatalities in the initial stages of the conflict. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has authorized the military campaign, which has resulted in widespread destruction and casualties in Gaza.