More than 100 Palestinians have died in recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Gaza, according to the health ministry run by Hamas. Among the victims were 27 individuals who were taking shelter in a school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. Tragically, the bodies of 14 children and five women were recovered from that school.
Hamas condemned the airstrike, labeling it a "heinous massacre" of innocent civilians. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their strike was aimed at a "Hamas command and control center" and that they took measures to minimize civilian casualties.
The health ministry reported that around 70 people were injured in the attack, with some suffering critical injuries. Additionally, over 30 other residents of Gaza were killed in strikes on homes in the nearby Shijaiyah neighborhood.
In a separate series of overnight strikes, at least 55 more people were reported dead in the Gaza Strip. The IDF has intensified its military actions, aiming to exert pressure on Hamas and ultimately remove the group from power.
On Thursday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders to residents in parts of northern Gaza, warning them to seek shelter in the western side of Gaza City. This follows statements from Israeli officials indicating plans to seize large areas of Palestinian territory.
Israel’s blockade on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid has lasted for a month, with the aim of pressuring Hamas to release hostages. Currently, 59 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas, with 24 of them thought to be alive.
The ongoing conflict has led to severe shortages of supplies for civilians in Gaza. UN human rights officials have raised concerns that Israel’s actions may amount to war crimes. Tom Fletcher, a UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, described the blockade as a deliberate strategy to pressure the people of Gaza.
Hamas is demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, they have rejected calls to disarm or leave the territory.
The conflict escalated after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Since then, the situation has deteriorated, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, while Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants.