Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across northern and southern Gaza on Friday, killing at least 108 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military described the bombardment as a prelude to an intensified campaign aimed at compelling Hamas to release hostages.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched dozens of airstrikes across northern and southern Gaza on Friday, killing more than 93 people and wounding hundreds — attacks that Israeli officials described as a prelude to a larger military campaign in the territory aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages.

Aid groups and U.N. investigations have accused Israel of aiming to destroy Gaza’s health infrastructure. Israel says it is forced to strike hospitals it says are used by Hamas for military purposes.