Since Israel resumed its military operations on March 18, 3,193 Palestinians have been killed and 8,993 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 53,339, with 121,034 others injured, according to health authorities in Gaza.

JERUSALEM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Sunday launched a major ground incursion into multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, marking a new phase in its conflict with Hamas. Meanwhile, it began easing the blockade to allow limited aid entry into the territory amid growing international pressure to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military said that ground forces, including reservists, launched "extensive operations" in both northern and southern Gaza under an offensive it termed "Gideon's Chariots," signaling a new phase in its 20-month-long conflict with Hamas and other militant factions.

The objectives of the "Gideon's Chariots" operation include seizing key parts of the enclave, pushing a majority of Gaza's around 2 million residents further south, and resuming humanitarian aid distribution under stricter Israeli oversight, said Israeli officials.

In a statement, the military said it had killed "dozens" of militants, dismantled both surface-level and underground military infrastructure, and is now positioned at strategic locations within Gaza and pledged to continue operations in the Gaza Strip "to defend Israeli civilians."

In addition to ground operations, Israel also launched airstrikes on the enclave, killing at least 110 people, according to Palestinian sources.

Amid mounting international criticism over the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday a decision to lift the blockade on Gaza to allow the entry of limited aid.

UN agencies have reported worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza since the blockade was imposed on March 2. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported earlier in May that about 93 percent of Gaza's population was experiencing food insecurity, ranging from crisis to catastrophe levels.

In a statement, Netanyahu's office said Israel will allow the entry of a "basic" quantity of food for the Gaza population to prevent a hunger crisis, without specifying when the aid would begin entering or through what mechanism.

State-owned public broadcaster Kan reported that aid deliveries would begin "immediately," with distribution to be carried out by international aid organizations already operating in Gaza, as a new distribution mechanism, which Israel said would be implemented via a U.S. company, has yet to be launched.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu's office confirmed that an Israeli negotiation team was engaged in indirect talks in Doha regarding a hostage release deal with Hamas, which could include a potential end to the Gaza conflict.

According to Israeli estimates, 58 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during its assault on Oct. 7, 2023 on southern Israel remain in Gaza. Among the 58 hostages, 20 are believed to be alive.

Since Israel resumed its military operations on March 18, 3,193 Palestinians have been killed and 8,993 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 53,339, with 121,034 others injured, health authorities in Gaza said Sunday.