The Israeli military says it has launched the first stages of a new major offensive in Gaza, in a development that comes on the same day that US President Donald Trump concluded his visit to the region without securing a ceasefire deal.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday it had launched attacks and mobilized forces to seize areas in the Gaza Strip, as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots and

The ramped up strikes began just hours after the Trump administration brokered the release on Monday of Edan Alexander in direct talks with Hamas.