Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 114 Palestinians, as per health officials and rescue workers. This increase in aerial assaults is taking place ahead of a planned ground invasion aimed at Hamas and other militant groups.
Particularly devastating was the assault on Khan Younis, where 56 individuals, including women and children, lost their lives when airstrikes targeted homes and makeshift shelters for those displaced.
The Hamas-led Civil Defense Agency also confirmed that there was a fatal attack in Jabaria, with bombardments hitting health clinics and places of worship, claiming the lives of 13 people.
This escalation in violence coincides with President Donald Trump’s visit to the region. During his third day in Qatar, he proposed creating a “free zone” in Gaza under U.S. control, a suggestion met with swift rejection from Bass Naim, a senior official in Hamas. He stated firmly that Gaza is a vital part of Palestinian land and not something to be bartered or sold.
While Trump’s visit was anticipated to decrease hostilities, recent gunfire has only intensified violence in the area over the past couple of days.
The situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with hospitals overwhelmed and lacking in resources, struggling to accommodate the many injured. Khan Eyns is currently experiencing a surge in funerals, with families grieving what residents describe as the most lethal airstrike in the last two months.
One man described the morgue at Nasser Hospital as being over capacity, with bodies lying in hallways awaiting burial. Due to the severe shortage of beds, medical staff have resorted to treating victims on stretchers or even on the floor. “Among those killed today were 36 children… an entire family wiped from existence,” he lamented, underscoring the tragic human toll this conflict is inflicting on innocent civilians.
