The new offensive has led to closure of northern Gaza's main hospitals, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military said the ground maneuvers were part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, an offensive that could include the occupation of Gaza.

Israel launched “extensive” new ground operations in the Gaza Strip, while airstrikes in a new offensive killed at least 103 people, hospitals and medics said, and forced northern Gaza’s main hospital to close.

The Israeli military said on Sunday it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel, where sirens sounded in several areas. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv with two ballistic missiles.

But it came 10 days after Israel disabled Yemen’s only functioning airport in similar strikes. It was the first time Israel said it had struck the Houthis since US President Donald Trump announced on May 6 that the US would stop its bombing campaign in Yemen in response to assurances that the Iranian-backed group would halt its attacks on ships.

For decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as a gatekeeper to Washington.