Gaza has witnessed a devastating surge in violence as at least 38 Palestinians were reported killed in a barrage of Israeli air strikes over a brief half-hour period, according to local medical sources. This series of attacks occurred overnight and marks an escalation in Israel’s ongoing military operations in the region.
Locations targeted in recent air strikes
The Israeli air force targeted multiple locations across the Gaza Strip, including a school in eastern Gaza City and an abandoned fuel station in the Nuseirat refugee camp that was sheltering displaced families. The Hamas-run civil defense agency has indicated that rescue teams are struggling to reach the wounded, hindered by ongoing bombardments and a shortage of necessary equipment.
Among the casualties, ten individuals lost their lives when an Israeli strike hit classrooms at the Musa bin Nusayr School, which had become a refuge for hundreds of displaced civilians. In another incident, 15 people were killed at the Nuseirat fuel station, where families had sought shelter in tents. Additionally, local journalists reported that an air strike targeted the home of the Abu Samra family in central Deir al-Balah, resulting in the deaths of 13 people.
International response and humanitarian concerns
As the situation escalates, Israeli jets also conducted ten air strikes in the Shujaiya neighborhood of eastern Gaza City, with local reports describing the impacts as tremors akin to an earthquake. These strikes are believed to have targeted Hamas’s intricate network of underground tunnels.
This latest wave of violence follows a controversial evacuation order issued by Israel for civilians in Gaza, citing preparations for what it describes as an “unprecedented attack.” The escalation has drawn international attention, with leaders from the UK, France, and Canada issuing a joint statement warning of potential repercussions if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues with his plans to exert full control over Gaza.
“This statement is a huge prize for Hamas,” Netanyahu remarked in response.
In a parallel move, Israel announced it would permit a “basic amount” of food supplies into Gaza, ending an 11-week blockade. However, United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized this measure as insufficient, labeling it a mere “drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed.”
The current conflict, which erupted following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 individuals, with around 58 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that the death toll among Palestinians has exceeded 53,486 during this military campaign.