Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, with a majority being women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This escalation in violence follows Israel's decision to end its ceasefire with Hamas over a month ago, which had aimed to address the ongoing conflict.
Since the beginning of March, Israel has imposed a blockade on the 2 million residents of Gaza, restricting food and other essential imports. This move is part of a strategy to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the conflict. Hamas, in return, has stated that it will only release the remaining 59 captives—of whom 24 are believed to be alive—if certain conditions are met, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The current conflict escalated dramatically on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an assault into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, Israel's military operations have reportedly killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, as stated by the Gaza Health Ministry, though the exact number of civilian versus militant casualties remains unclear. In contrast, Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants but has not provided substantiating evidence for these figures.
The latest wave of strikes on Thursday saw a significant impact in Jabaliya, where at least nine individuals died from an airstrike on a police station, which the Israeli military claimed was targeting a Hamas command center. In the southern city of Khan Younis, additional airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, including a mother and her two children. Central Gaza experienced six fatalities, including two women and two children, while an airstrike on a residence in Gaza City killed four children along with their parents.
The ongoing violence and devastation highlight the severe humanitarian crisis in the region and the toll that the conflict continues to take on civilians. As strikes have intensified, the situation remains dire for the inhabitants of Gaza, who are facing both immediate and long-term repercussions from the conflict.
