Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill Over 90, Including Civilians in Humanitarian Zones, Amid Escalating Military Operations

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 92 people, including women and children, over the past 48 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Victims were found in areas designated as humanitarian zones, such as al-Mawasi near Khan Younis. The Israeli military has intensified operations to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and disarming, amid stalled ceasefire talks. The strikes exacerbate a humanitarian crisis, with aid agencies warning of malnutrition and collapsing services due to a blockade restricting essential supplies.

Civilian Deaths in Designated Safe Zones

Among the dead are at least 15 people killed overnight, including women and children, some of whom were sheltering in tents in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. This area had been designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge. Hospital staff confirmed that several of the victims were found in tents, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians even in supposed safe zones.

In Rafah, four additional people were killed in separate strikes, including a mother and her daughter, according to the European Hospital, where their bodies were taken. These attacks have raised alarm among humanitarian organizations, as they occurred in areas where civilians had been directed to relocate for safety.

Intensified Military Campaign

The Israeli military has confirmed that it is escalating its operations across Gaza, targeting what it describes as Hamas infrastructure and operatives. Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are working toward a “decisive victory,” with the stated objectives of securing the release of hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities.

“The IDF is currently working toward a decisive victory in all arenas, the release of the hostages, and the defeat of Hamas in Gaza,” Katz said in a statement. He also emphasized that Israeli forces would maintain control over newly established “security buffer zones” within Gaza, which now reportedly cover nearly a third of the territory.

Hostage Negotiations and Ceasefire Stalemate

The renewed offensive follows the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement that had previously paused hostilities for two months. Israeli officials have stated that the military pressure is intended to force Hamas into accepting a new deal for the release of the remaining 59 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people.

Hamas has rejected the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal, which included a 45-day truce in exchange for the release of 10 hostages and discussions on ending the war. In response, Hamas offered to release all remaining hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the war, and the start of reconstruction efforts.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The ongoing blockade of Gaza, now in its sixth week, has severely restricted the entry of food, medicine, and other essential supplies. Aid groups and United Nations agencies have issued urgent warnings about the deteriorating humanitarian situation. According to the UN, thousands of children are now malnourished, and most residents are surviving on less than one meal per day.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, head of the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean office, urged the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to advocate for lifting the blockade. “Gaza needs food now,” the UN’s World Food Programme stated, warning of a looming famine.

The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, with hundreds of thousands living in makeshift tent camps or bombed-out buildings. The destruction of infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, has left many families relying on unsafe water sources, further compounding the public health crisis.

Civilian Toll and Infrastructure Destruction

Since the start of the war, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. The scale of destruction has rendered vast areas of Gaza uninhabitable, with most of the territory’s food production capacity destroyed.

In the latest wave of strikes, Israeli forces reportedly hit around 40 targets across the Gaza Strip, including in the Shabura and Tel al-Sultan neighborhoods near Rafah and in northern Gaza. The military claims these operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas’s operational infrastructure, but the high civilian death toll has drawn international concern.

Public Grief and Mourning

In Khan Younis, funerals were held for victims of the recent strikes. Mourners wept over the bodies of their loved ones, with one man crying out, “Omar is gone... I wish it was me,” as he grieved his brother. The emotional toll on families continues to mount as the conflict drags on with no clear resolution in sight.

References

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