At least 59 Palestinians, many of them children, have been killed in a series of intensified Israeli air raids across the Gaza Strip, according to local medical sources. The attacks come amid growing fears of a wider Israeli offensive, with new evacuation orders targeting the northern towns of Beit Hanoon and Sheikh Zeid.
Entire Families Wiped Out in Strikes
Rescue teams reported heartbreaking scenes, particularly in Jabalia, where an airstrike on a family home killed 12 people from a single household. Another strike in Gaza City flattened a residence, killing six family members, including four children.
“There are only hands, legs, and heads… all severed,” said Ahmed Arar, a first responder at the scene.
Markets and Hospitals Targeted
A former police station near Jabalia’s market was also hit, killing at least 10 people. Israel’s military claims it struck a Hamas command and control center in the area, though it didn’t confirm targeting the station directly.
Elsewhere, Durra Children’s Hospital in Gaza City was rendered inoperable after being struck, damaging its intensive care unit and destroying its solar panel system. The healthcare system in Gaza continues to collapse under pressure, with numerous hospitals already forced to shut down.
Evacuation Orders and Civilian Displacement
The Israeli military has ordered residents in Beit Hanoon and Sheikh Zeid to evacuate ahead of further attacks. The United Nations warns these expanding evacuation directives could amount to forcible transfer of civilians, a potential violation of international law.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The closure of vital border crossings for eight consecutive weeks has blocked essential humanitarian aid, worsening the already dire conditions for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents—many of whom have been displaced multiple times since the war began in October 2023.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that since Israel resumed its military campaign on March 18, at least 1,978 people have been killed. This brings the total death toll since the war reignited to over 51,355.
Military Warnings and Ceasefire Deadlock
Visiting Israeli troops in Gaza on Thursday, Army Chief Eyal Zamir warned of a “larger and more significant operation” if Hamas does not release hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Efforts by Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have failed to secure a ceasefire. Negotiations continue in Cairo, but progress remains elusive.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military admitted that its tank fire killed a UN worker in Deir el-Balah last month—reversing earlier denials of activity in the area. It also recently acknowledged “operational failures” in the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers, leading to the dismissal of a field commander.
