DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Recent Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 59 individuals, including women and children, as reported by hospital officials on Wednesday. This escalation occurs against the backdrop of a protracted conflict that is now entering its 20th month, with Israel preparing to intensify its military campaign against Hamas.
The strikes included a particularly devastating attack on a school in central Gaza on Tuesday night, where 27 people were killed, among them nine women and three children. This marked the fifth instance since the conflict's inception in which the same school, sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians, was struck. Another early morning attack on a separate school shelter in Gaza City resulted in 16 fatalities, while additional strikes across various areas claimed at least 16 more lives.
Graphic images emerged from Bureij, an urban refugee camp, where thick smoke billowed from the site of the school shelter. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped amid the flames. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these precise attacks, but they maintain that Hamas is culpable for the civilian casualties due to its operations being conducted from within civilian infrastructure, including schools.
The recent spate of violence follows Israel's approval of a plan to escalate its military operations in Gaza. This strategy entails seizing territory, displacing Palestinians to Southern Gaza, and taking control of aid distribution with the assistance of private security firms. Alongside this military strategy, Israel is mobilizing tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. Officials have indicated that these efforts will be gradual and will not commence until after U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region later this month.
Any further escalation in fighting is expected to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, as Israel currently controls about 50% of Gaza. A prolonged military occupation could raise significant governance challenges in the territory, particularly as Israel considers operations aligned with Trump's vision for Gaza.
The conflict ignited when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of around 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israeli military actions have claimed over 52,000 lives in Gaza, predominantly among women and children, per Palestinian health officials who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their reporting.
In a controversial statement, Trump reported on Tuesday that only 21 of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza are alive, a claim contested by Israeli officials who believe the number is 24. Concerns have been raised regarding the well-being of three of these hostages, who have not shown any signs of life. Families of the captives have demanded immediate transparency from the Israeli government regarding any potentially new information concerning their loved ones and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause the military campaign in Gaza until all hostages are safely returned.
The resurgence of military action follows the end of a ceasefire with Hamas in mid-March, which previously allowed for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Following the expiration of this truce, Israel has enacted fierce military strikes, capturing substantial swathes of territory while simultaneously halting all humanitarian aid, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis perceived to be the worst in the conflict's duration.
Efforts for mediation continue through key intermediaries like Qatar and Egypt, yet significant differences remain between Israel and Hamas regarding their visions for ending the conflict. While Israel is adamant about not concluding military action until Hamas's military capabilities are dismantled, Hamas has indicated a willingness to release all hostages in exchange for a cessation of hostilities and a long-term truce.
Simultaneously, tensions have escalated with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who launched a ballistic missile that reached Israel’s main international airport. This retaliation incited a series of Israeli airstrikes on various Houthi targets, revealing the widening arena of conflict through solidarity actions taken by the Houthis in support of Palestinians. Trump also announced a halt to U.S. military actions against the Houthis, marking the U.S.-Houthi agreement as an unexpected development that could place Israel in a precarious position regarding its ongoing hostilities.
