Renewed Israeli Bombardment in Gaza Claims Dozens of Lives as Conflict Intensifies
Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza continued unabated for the third consecutive day, claiming at least 71 lives, including a newborn, in predawn attacks. The violence has sparked widespread outrage and concern about escalating casualties.
Health officials in Gaza reported that at least 71 Palestinians were killed in the latest wave of bombings, which targeted both southern and northern parts of the enclave. The death toll is expected to rise as many others were wounded in the overnight raids.
The Palestinian news reported that at least 20 people lost their lives in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, following airstrikes on multiple residential buildings. In northern Gaza, a strike on a family home in the as-Sultan neighborhood, near Beit Lahiya, resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals.
Among the victims of these airstrikes were a newborn baby, children, and women, further underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the assault. Abu Azzoum also reported a troubling strategic shift in Israeli tactics, noting that there was no prior warning given to civilians before their homes were targeted.
The relentless bombardment follows Israel’s violation of a two-month ceasefire that had been in place until earlier this week. Since the ceasefire’s collapse, Israeli forces have killed more than 710 Palestinians and injured over 900 others, with approximately 70 percent of the injured being women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health spokesperson Khalil Al-Daqran.
UN Personnel Among Casualties
The violence also claimed the life of a United Nations foreign staffer on Wednesday, as well as five other UN workers who were wounded in an Israeli air raid on a UN facility in central Gaza. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, expressed outrage at the attack, stating, “The strike targeted a clearly designated UN compound in Gaza. Civilians, including UN staff and humanitarian workers, must never be targeted under international law. We demand accountability and a genuine investigation into this tragic incident.”
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) also reported that five of its staff members were killed in recent days, bringing the agency’s death toll to 284. These workers, including teachers, doctors, and nurses, were serving some of Gaza’s most vulnerable populations.
Global Condemnation and International Pressure
The resumption of Israeli airstrikes has drawn fierce international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing his outrage over the ongoing violence. The escalation has sparked calls for accountability, as the international community urges Israel to respect humanitarian laws and cease attacks on civilians.
In addition to the bombardments, Israel has resumed ground operations in Gaza, retaking control of the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic area that separates northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave. This move has further restricted the movement of Palestinians, with Israel’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee advising civilians to avoid approaching Israeli soldiers for their safety.
Protests in Israel Amid Renewed Assault
The resumption of Israeli military actions has triggered widespread protests within Israel itself. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of disregarding the safety of the Israeli captives still held in Gaza. Protestors voiced concerns over the escalation of violence and called for a reevaluation of the government’s military strategy.
Hamas, for its part, remains committed to the ceasefire framework that had been agreed upon in January, according to spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou. He emphasized that Hamas is working with mediators to halt Israel’s renewed military campaign and to ensure that Gaza’s residents can live free of violence.
Netanyahu, however, vowed to continue the assault, declaring on Tuesday that the renewed bombing of Gaza was “only the beginning.” He reaffirmed Israel’s goal of dismantling Hamas and securing the release of all Israeli captives held in Gaza.
