On Thursday, intensified Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of at least 69 people, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, operated by Hamas. The bombardment, described as one of the deadliest in recent weeks, targeted various locations, including civilian shelters and aid distribution points, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Among the most devastating incidents was an airstrike on a school in Gaza City’s al-Rimal neighborhood, which had been converted into a shelter for displaced families. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that 15 people, predominantly women and children, perished in the pre-dawn attack. Local medics corroborated the casualty figures, painting a grim picture of the destruction. Wafaa al-Arqan, a witness, recounted the horror to Reuters: “Without warning, the tent collapsed around us, engulfed in flames. We were helpless. How can this be justified when children are burned alive?”
The Israeli military, in response, claimed the strike targeted a “key Hamas operative” operating from a command-and-control center at the site, though it did not explicitly acknowledge the school as the target. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) further stated that it had taken “numerous precautions” to minimize civilian casualties and accused Hamas of using human shields, a charge the militant group has consistently rejected.
In another tragic incident, the Civil Defence agency reported that 38 individuals were killed while either queuing for humanitarian aid or traveling to collect it. Spokesman Mahmoud Bassal detailed the casualties to AFP, noting that 25 people died near the Netzarim corridor, a military checkpoint in central Gaza controlled by Israeli forces. Six others were killed at a nearby location, and seven more lost their lives in the southern city of Rafah. Additionally, medics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told Reuters that at least 20 people were killed while en route to an aid distribution center. The IDF dismissed these reports as “fabrications,” offering no further comment on the specific incidents.
The strikes come amid heightened international efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, led by US President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to the “essential conditions” for a proposed 60-day truce, though significant hurdles remain. Hamas, while reviewing the undisclosed terms of the proposal, continues to demand a complete end to hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday to discuss the negotiations, has maintained a hardline stance, insisting that Hamas must be eradicated entirely. This divergence in objectives underscores the complexity of reaching an agreement.
The IDF reported that its air forces struck approximately 150 “terror targets” across Gaza in the 24 hours prior to Thursday, including Hamas fighters, underground tunnels, and weapons caches. In contrast, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claimed a higher death toll, reporting 118 fatalities during the same period, highlighting the ongoing discrepancy in casualty figures provided by the two sides.
In southern Gaza’s al-Mawasi area, designated by the IDF as a “safe zone” for civilians fleeing evacuation orders, at least five displaced people were reportedly killed in an overnight strike on a tent. Ashraf Abu Shaba, a resident of a nearby tent, described the aftermath to reporters: “I saw the bodies of women and children wrapped in blankets, lifeless. Israel claims there are safe zones, but nowhere is safe. Every corner of Gaza is a target, and the suffering is unbearable.”
As the violence persists, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens. Russian drone and missile attacks, though unrelated to the Israeli strikes, have compounded regional instability, with Ukrainian officials reporting three deaths and 34 injuries on Thursday, according to the Kyiv Independent. In Gaza, the relentless bombardment has left civilians increasingly vulnerable, with aid access severely restricted and safe havens scarce.
