Israeli forces launch 'extensive' ground operation across Gaza as death toll rises

The Israeli military announced a significant ground incursion into "multiple areas" of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, as Palestinian health officials reported that overnight and early morning airstrikes had killed at least 67 people, including many women and children.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that ground forces, including reservists, have begun "extensive operations" in both northern and southern Gaza as part of a broader offensive it has termed "Gideon's Chariots." This marks a new phase in Israel's 20-month-long war against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other militant factions.

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that the army would continue its newly launched ground operation in Gaza until it "breaks" Hamas's militant ability.

Over the past week, the Israeli Air Force has carried out a wave of airstrikes, hitting more than 670 Hamas military targets across Gaza, including weapons depots, underground infrastructure, anti-tank missile launchers, and armed personnel, according to an IDF statement.

The Israeli military said its forces have killed "dozens" of militants, dismantled both above- and below-ground military infrastructure, and are now positioned at strategic locations within Gaza.

Palestinian sources reported that Israeli airstrikes struck the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza, including tents sheltering displaced civilians.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday that at least 67 Palestinians were killed and 361 others wounded in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

Local health authorities have confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli offensive since October 2023 has reached 53,339, with an additional 121,043 people injured. They added that the majority of the casualties were women and children.

According to their figures, the death toll since Israel's resumption of hostilities on March 18, following a two-month truce, has risen to 3,193, with 8,993 others injured.

Meanwhile, delegations from Israel and Hamas convened in Doha, Qatar, for another round of indirect negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages. However, diplomats indicated that progress remains elusive, as both sides continue to maintain firm positions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed earlier on Sunday that an Israeli negotiation team was engaged in indirect talks in Doha regarding a potential hostage release deal with Hamas, which could include a pathway to ending the Gaza war.

The negotiation team is working in the capital of Qatar "to realize every chance for a deal," including one that will "end the fighting", secure the release of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, expel Hamas militants, and disarm the Gaza Strip, the office said in a statement.

On the same day, a senior Israeli official said on Sunday that the negotiations have made little progress so far.

Senior Hamas member Osama Hamdan said that some "unacceptable" proposals had been presented during the Doha talks. "We are still negotiating, and ideas that are unacceptable to us are being put forward, and we are also presenting our own ideas," Hamdan was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera, adding that no final agreement has been reached yet.

Israeli forces launch 'extensive' ground operation across Gaza as death toll rises

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests