Aerial assaults by Israel result in the death of 52 individuals in Gaza, with numerous fatalities reported in a single shelter, according to medical personnel.
Gaza Strip, DEIR AL BALAH – At least 52 individuals, including 36 sheltered within a school, were tragically killed in Israeli airstrikes in Deir al Balah on Monday. Local health authorities confirmed the deaths amid a blaze that destroyed the victims' belongings following a strike on the school, allegedly used as a militant base. The Israeli military has claimed responsibility, stating they targeted militants operating within the school.
The recent surge in violence stems from Israel's ongoing offensive, which began in March following the termination of a ceasefire with Hamas. The Israeli government has vowed to seize control of Gaza, promising to persist in military action until Hamas is either destroyed or disarmed. The militant group is expected to return the 58 hostages – with about a third believed to be still alive – who were abducted in a 2023 attack that ignited the war.
Last week, Israel eased matters slightly by allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza, following two months of denied food, medicine, fuel, and other essential goods. However, aid groups have expressed concerns about the growing potential for famine, arguing the provided aid is insufficient to meet the escalating needs of the region.
Anticipated to begin operations from Monday, a new aid system backed by Israel and the United States has yet to gain favor among UN agencies and humanitarian groups, who have rejected the proposed system. The American leader overseeing the effort recently stepped down, citing limitations that would hinder the system's independence.
Israel has also proposed a plan for the voluntary migration of Gaza's two million residents – a proposal met with resistance from Palestinians and a significant portion of the international community. Hamas encouraged Palestinians to reject cooperation with the new aid system, asserting it serves Israel's objectives.
The school in Deir al Balah's Daraj neighborhood, which was struck three times during the night, also left multiple individuals wounded. Fahmy Awad, head of the Health Ministry's emergency service, confirmed the incident and shared the heartbreaking news of a father and his five children losing their lives in the incident.
In a separate strike in Jabaliya, 16 family members, including five women and two children, were killed.
Palestinian extremists retaliated by launching three projectiles from Gaza. Two fell short, landing within Gaza itself, and the third was intercepted by Israeli forces.
Israel plans to launch a new aid distribution system, managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, from this week. The foundation is composed of former humanitarian, government, and military officials and will set up guarded distribution points staffed by private security firms.
U.N. agencies and major aid groups have declined to partake in the project. They argue that it would cause further displacement, fail to meet the rising needs of the population, and violate principles stipulating that a warring party should not control humanitarian assistance. They also dispute the claim that militants have systematically diverted aid resources.
Since 2023, Hamas-led militants have been responsible for the deaths of around 1,200 civilians and the abduction of 251 people in a single attack. Significant progress has been made in recovering hostages and remains, with over half having been returned in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel's retaliatory offensive has cost the lives of roughly 54,000 Palestinians, about half of whom were women and children. Ongoing violence has forced the displacement of nearly nine out of ten Gaza residents, who continue to take shelter in overcrowded schools and squalid tent camps for over a year.
Aid workers and correspondents, Shurafa and Magdy, have contributed to this Associated Press report from Deir al Balah and Cairo respectively, along with additional contributions from Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem.
Additional resources:- Israel's latest strikes in Gaza kill at least 38 people, including children- 9 of a Gaza doctor's 10 children are killed in Israeli strikes- At least 60 people killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza as Israel lets minimal aid in
- Amidst the ongoing political tensions between Israel and Gaza, California-based humanitarian organizations have expressed their concern over the new aid distribution system proposed by Israel and the United States, fearing it may exacerbate the already critical situation in Gaza.
- In light of the recent escalation of war-and-conflicts in Gaza, the California government has called upon global political leaders to address the health concerns of the displaced population, especially children, who are at risk due to the lack of essential supplies.
- As the Israeli government persists in its military actions against Hamas in Gaza, California news outlets have been reporting on the general-news implications, emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians involved in the conflict.
