Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 31 Amid Aid Blockade; Trump's Ceasefire Efforts Collapse

At least 31 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday amid a worsening humanitarian crisis due to a 60-day aid blockade. Most victims were civilians, including children and women, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The military campaign resumed after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire collapsed in March. The blockade has led to severe food shortages and overwhelmed hospitals, prompting international calls for action. President Trump’s ceasefire efforts have stalled, with criticism over his handling of the crisis. Meanwhile, Israeli officials justify the blockade as pressure on Hamas to release hostages.

Israeli Bombardment Intensifies, Civilian Toll Mounts

Israeli warplanes launched a wave of airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday, targeting residential areas in northern and central parts of the enclave. In one of the deadliest incidents, a home in northern Abasan Al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, was bombed, killing multiple members of the Abu Doqqa family, including children and women. Another strike in the Qleibo area near Jabalia refugee camp killed a young girl and injured two others, who were rushed to the Indonesian Hospital for treatment.

Medical sources reported that hospitals received the bodies of 18 Palestinians and treated 77 wounded in the past 24 hours. Many remain trapped under rubble, with emergency crews struggling to reach them due to ongoing bombardment and a lack of equipment. The Health Ministry in Gaza stated that the total death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has now surpassed 52,400, with more than 118,000 injured. Over half of the dead are women and children.

Aid Blockade Pushes Gaza Toward Famine

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly under Israel’s blockade, which has now lasted over two months. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations have issued urgent warnings, describing the starvation of children as “an abomination” and “cruel collective punishment.” U.N. food stockpiles have been depleted, and most bakeries and soup kitchens have shut down due to lack of supplies.

Hospitals are overwhelmed and under-resourced. Malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and the elderly is rising sharply. Newborns are increasingly being born underweight, and medical staff report a surge in preventable deaths due to the lack of medicine and clean water. The U.K. Foreign Office warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse and called for immediate humanitarian access.

Despite these warnings, Israeli officials continue to justify the blockade as a means to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. However, critics argue that the blockade disproportionately punishes civilians and violates international law.

Trump’s Ceasefire Diplomacy Stalls

President Donald Trump entered his second term in January 2025 with bold promises to resolve the Gaza conflict. A ceasefire agreement was reached shortly after his inauguration, but it collapsed in mid-March after Israel resumed military operations, citing Hamas violations. Since then, over 2,300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 injured.

Trump’s initial vision for Gaza included transforming the war-torn enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” a plan that drew international criticism for its perceived disregard for the Palestinian population. As the ceasefire unraveled, Trump shifted his diplomatic focus toward Iran, leaving Gaza’s crisis largely unaddressed.

Families of American hostages held by Hamas have publicly urged Trump to take a firmer stance, not only against Hamas but also against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We asked of the president to keep everybody accountable,” said Adi Alexander, father of one of the hostages. “He should be tough with the enemies and with friends as well.”

Despite these appeals, Trump has made limited progress. His Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has floated the idea of Hamas becoming politically active in Gaza if it disarms, but no concrete steps have been taken. Meanwhile, Trump is preparing for a visit to Saudi Arabia to promote the Abraham Accords, though Riyadh has signaled it will not normalize ties with Israel without meaningful progress on Palestinian rights.

International Condemnation and Regional Tensions

The international community has increasingly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. At the International Court of Justice this week, Saudi Arabia’s representative accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and “barbarity” for restricting humanitarian aid. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called on Israel to lift the blockade, stating, “International law is unequivocal about Israel’s obligations as an occupying power in Gaza.”

Inside Israel, public opinion is divided. Polls show that nearly 70% of Israelis support ending military operations in exchange for the return of hostages. However, Netanyahu’s government remains committed to its military objectives. “Releasing the hostages is a very important objective, but we have a supreme objective in this war — victory over our enemies,” Netanyahu said in a recent speech.

Far-right Israeli officials have gone further. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested that the campaign would only end once “Gaza is cleansed of Hamas and hundreds of thousands of Gazans are on their way out of it to other countries.” These remarks have fueled fears of a prolonged occupation and further displacement of Palestinians.

On the Ground: Life Under Siege

For Gaza’s residents, daily life has become a struggle for survival. “We spend our days between looking for water and food and charging batteries so we can see at night, and waiting to die,” said Mohammed Murtaja, a 25-year-old resident of Gaza City. His family, like many others, has been displaced multiple times and now lives in overcrowded conditions with little access to basic necessities.

Dr. Samer Attar, an American surgeon who recently returned from Gaza, described the conditions as worse than any horror movie. “I don’t think a horror movie could fictionalize how these scenes are any more sick, twisted and disturbing,” he said.

As the siege continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating. With diplomatic efforts stalled and military operations escalating, the civilian population remains caught in the crossfire of a conflict with no clear end in sight.

References

• Thursday Update: Dozens Of Casualties As Israeli Continues Bombing Gaza
• ‘Strangulation’: Israel kills 31 in Gaza as aid blockade starves children
• UN official calls Israel's Gaza aid blockade 'cruel collective punishment'
• Parents of Hamas hostages urge Trump to be 'tough with enemies and friends' amid Israeli siege in Gaza
• The U.S. set the global order after WWII. Trump has other plans