Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Thursday killed at least 40 Palestinians in Gaza, according to hospital reports. The attacks targeted residential areas in Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, as well as Beit Lahiya in the north.
The latest escalation follows Israel’s resumption of intense bombardments on Tuesday, ending a ceasefire that had facilitated the release of over two dozen hostages. Israeli officials accused Hamas of rejecting a revised Israeli-backed proposal, which deviated from the earlier agreement.
For the first time since the ceasefire took effect in January, Israeli ground forces advanced deeper into Gaza on Wednesday, securing parts of a corridor dividing the northern and southern regions. Meanwhile, Israel has halted essential supplies, including food, fuel, and humanitarian aid, worsening conditions for Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents.
Israeli leaders insist the offensive will continue until Hamas releases the 59 remaining hostages—35 of whom are believed dead—and surrenders control of the enclave. Hamas, however, demands a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s full withdrawal, as per the original agreement brokered by the US, Egypt, and Qatar.
The group has expressed willingness to transfer governance to the Palestinian Authority or an independent political entity but refuses to disarm unless Israel ends its long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories.
Israel has yet to comment on the latest airstrikes but maintains its attacks target militants. The military attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, claiming it operates within residential areas.
Hospitals across Gaza reported heavy losses, with the European Hospital in Rafah stating that 26 people, mostly women and children, were killed in airstrikes on two homes, including a father and his seven children. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed seven deaths from a separate airstrike, while the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya reported another seven fatalities.
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Ceasefire deals have since secured the release of many captives, while Israeli forces rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has been among the most destructive in recent history. The Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 49,000 Palestinian deaths, over half of them women and children.
While Israel claims it has killed around 20,000 Hamas militants, it has not provided evidence. The conflict has displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, leaving vast areas in ruins. Many who returned home during the ceasefire found their neighborhoods reduced to rubble, with little hope of rebuilding as hostilities continued.
