Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 42, Including Civilians and Journalist; U.S. Reports 62 Troop Injuries in Aid Mission
Israeli airstrikes on May 6 and 7 killed at least 42 Palestinians, including women, children, and journalist Nour Abdu, in Gaza. The strikes targeted schools and shelters amid Israel's intensified military campaign. Concurrently, a Pentagon report revealed 62 U.S. service members were injured during a humanitarian aid mission involving a floating pier off Gaza's coast. The mission, criticized for poor coordination and preparation, aimed to deliver aid by sea due to closed land crossings.
Key Updates
05/07 09:03
Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 42, Including Civilians and Journalist; U.S. Reports 62 Troop Injuries in Aid Mission
Israeli airstrikes on May 6 and 7 killed at least 42 Palestinians, including women, children, and journalist Nour Abdu, in Gaza. The strikes targeted schools and shelters amid Israel's intensified military campaign. Concurrently, a Pentagon report revealed 62 U.S. service members were injured during a humanitarian aid mission involving a floating pier off Gaza's coast. The mission, criticized for poor coordination and preparation, aimed to deliver aid by sea due to closed land crossings.
Israeli Strikes Hit Civilian Shelters, Kill Dozens
Israeli airstrikes on May 6 and 7 struck multiple locations across Gaza, including schools being used as shelters for displaced families. According to officials at Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals, at least 42 people were killed in these attacks. Among the dead were nine women, three children, and a local journalist, Nour Abdu, whose death brings the total number of journalists killed in the conflict to 213, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred at a school in central Gaza, where 27 people were killed in a nighttime strike. Another 16 people died in a separate strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. On Wednesday, two airstrikes on the Karama School in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City killed 13 more people, including Abdu. Medics described scenes of chaos as fires engulfed the buildings and rescuers pulled victims from the rubble.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the specific strikes but has previously stated that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure, including schools, to conduct military operations. In a statement earlier this week, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said the campaign aims to "destroy all infrastructure above and below the ground" and increase pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages.
Civilian Toll Mounts Amid Expanded Israeli Offensive
The latest wave of airstrikes comes as Israel moves forward with plans to expand its military control over Gaza. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an "intensive" new phase of the war, following the security cabinet’s approval of a strategy that includes seizing the entire Gaza Strip, forcibly relocating civilians to the south, and taking control of humanitarian aid distribution.
Since the war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The majority of those killed are reported to be civilians, including women and children. The Israeli military reports 850 of its soldiers have died in the conflict.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. Israel has blocked all aid from entering the enclave since March 2, following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have warned of famine and widespread malnutrition among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
U.S. Aid Pier Operation Injures 62 Troops
In a separate development, a report released Tuesday by the Pentagon’s Inspector General revealed that 62 U.S. service members were injured during a humanitarian aid mission involving a floating pier off Gaza’s coast. The operation, known as "Trident," was launched in March 2024 under the Biden administration to bypass closed land crossings and deliver aid by sea.
The pier, which cost approximately $230 million, was operational for only about 20 days over a three-month period due to severe weather and logistical challenges. During that time, it delivered roughly 8,100 tons of aid—equivalent to just one day’s worth of humanitarian needs in Gaza, according to United Nations estimates.
The report criticized the mission for poor coordination between U.S. and Israeli forces and inadequate preparation. It also noted that the U.S. military failed to meet service-level standards for equipment and unit readiness. One soldier, Cpl. Quavandrius Stanley, died five months after sustaining serious injuries while operating a forklift aboard a U.S. Navy ship. The report could not confirm whether all injuries occurred during official duties due to insufficient documentation.
Despite the high cost and limited success, the operation was the largest U.S. humanitarian aid effort in the Middle East to date. However, it has become a point of contention in Congress, with critics labeling it a political gesture that failed to address the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Gaza’s Future Uncertain as Conflict Deepens
As Israeli forces continue to demolish homes and infrastructure in Rafah and other parts of Gaza, the military has taken control of roughly one-third of the territory. Watchtowers and surveillance posts have been erected in cleared areas, which the Israeli military describes as "security zones." Israeli officials have suggested that Rafah could serve as a new humanitarian zone, though aid access remains severely restricted.
The ongoing military operations and the high civilian death toll have drawn international concern. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have accused Israel of violating international law by targeting civilian infrastructure and obstructing humanitarian aid. Israel maintains that its actions are necessary to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and secure the release of hostages.
Meanwhile, the people of Gaza continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. With schools, hospitals, and shelters under fire, and aid deliveries faltering, the humanitarian crisis shows no signs of abating.
