A series of Israeli airstrikes struck the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis overnight, killing at least 54 people, according to hospital officials. This marked the second night in a row of intense aerial bombardment.
An Associated Press cameraman in the area reported at least 10 strikes overnight and witnessed numerous bodies being taken to Nasser Hospital’s morgue—some in fragments, with body bags containing the remains of multiple victims. The hospital confirmed the death toll at 54.
Among the dead was Al Araby TV journalist Hasan Samour, who was reportedly killed alongside 11 family members in one of the strikes, according to a social media post by the Qatari news outlet.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 60, including 22 children
The Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the attack.
This wave of strikes followed a deadly previous night in which air raids in both northern and southern Gaza claimed at least 70 lives, including nearly 20 children.
The escalation comes during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, where he is meeting with leaders in the Gulf but not traveling to Israel. Hopes had been high that the trip might result in a ceasefire or renewed humanitarian aid. Gaza remains under a strict Israeli blockade now in its third month.
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated plans to intensify military operations aimed at eradicating the Hamas militant group. His office stated on Tuesday that Israeli troops were preparing for a major ground push into Gaza “to finish the mission” of eliminating Hamas.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch accused Israel’s ongoing campaign and planned occupation of Gaza of approaching the threshold of extermination. The organization urged the global community to intervene.
The current war began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza, which has since killed nearly 53,000 Palestinians, including large numbers of women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Around 3,000 of those deaths occurred after Israel ended a ceasefire on March 18.
Hamas continues to hold 58 hostages from the October 7 attack, with only 23 believed to still be alive, although Israeli officials have raised concerns about the condition of three of them.
The war has devastated Gaza, destroying much of its infrastructure and displacing around 90% of the population—many of them multiple times. Israel cut off all aid, including food and medicine, on March 2. International food security experts have warned that famine is imminent unless the blockade is lifted and hostilities cease.
Close to half a million Palestinians are on the brink of starvation, with another million struggling to survive, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global authority on hunger crises.
Human Rights Watch has called for international action under the Genocide Convention, citing Israel’s actions—including destruction of civilian infrastructure and the blockade—as justification. Israel strongly denies any allegations of genocide.
The group also urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages, especially the 23 believed to still be alive.