A series of intense Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Wednesday left at least 60 people dead, including 22 children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and local hospital sources.
Nearly 50 of the fatalities occurred in the northern area of Jabaliya, with another 10 reported in the southern city of Khan Younis. The attacks followed the release of an Israeli-American hostage by Hamas in a U.S.-brokered deal, coinciding with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a ceasefire on Tuesday, stating Israel's military campaign in Gaza would continue, dashing hopes for a truce.
UN humanitarian chief blasts Israel for 'deliberately' blocking aid to Gaza
The Israeli military declined to comment on the airstrikes but had previously warned Jabaliya residents to evacuate, citing the presence of militant targets, including rocket launchers. In the aftermath, rescue teams worked by the light of cellphones to pull bodies—many of them children—from the rubble.
Netanyahu Vows Further Escalation
In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were preparing for a major escalation and were close to a decisive phase in their campaign to eliminate Hamas.
The current conflict began in 2023 after Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people during an incursion into southern Israel. Since then, Israel’s military response has resulted in over 52,800 Palestinian deaths, many of them women and children, according to Gaza health authorities. The data does not distinguish between civilians and militants.
There is ‘no way’ Israel halts war in Gaza until Hamas defeated: Netanyahu
Israel’s ongoing offensive has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced roughly 90% of its 2.3 million residents, with many forced to flee repeatedly.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Blockade
The latest airstrikes took place amid growing expectations that Trump’s Middle East visit might lead to a ceasefire or renewed aid access for Gaza.
Meanwhile, international concern over the humanitarian situation is mounting. The French government sharply criticized Israel’s ongoing blockade. President Emmanuel Macron labeled the restriction of aid as “a disgrace,” blaming Netanyahu’s administration for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
“There’s no medicine, the wounded can’t be evacuated, and doctors are barred from entering. What Netanyahu’s government is doing is simply unacceptable,” Macron said in a Tuesday TV interview.
Macron, who visited wounded Palestinians in an Egyptian hospital last month, urged the reopening of Gaza’s borders for humanitarian aid. He also stressed the need for Hamas’ disarmament, the release of hostages, and a political solution to the conflict.
Experts from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with nearly 500,000 Palestinians at risk of starvation and another 1 million facing extreme food insecurity.
For over 10 weeks, Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine, and essential supplies into Gaza while continuing military operations. The blockade and destruction have severely crippled Gaza’s ability to produce food, making its population almost entirely dependent on external aid for survival.