DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The recent Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 32 individuals, with more than a dozen of those casualties being women and children, as reported by local health officials on Sunday. This escalation occurs as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to the United States for discussions with President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict.
Following the end of last month’s ceasefire with Hamas, Israel has intensified its air and ground offensive, launching multiple strikes and seizing territories to compel the militant group into accepting new terms for a truce and the release of remaining hostages. Additionally, Israel has maintained a blockade on essential supplies such as food, fuel, and humanitarian aid for over a month, severely affecting the coastal territory which heavily relies on external assistance.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees expressed concerns on social media, saying, “Stocks are getting low and the situation is becoming desperate.”
During the latest strikes, a tent and a house in the southern city of Khan Younis were targeted, resulting in the deaths of five men, five women, and five children, according to the Nasser Hospital, which received the victims’ bodies.
Among the victims was a female journalist, prompting her mother, Amal Kaskeen, to declare, “My daughter is innocent. She had no involvement; she loved journalism and adored it.” The grim reality of war was starkly illustrated by the small body of a child, under the age of two, resting on one end of an emergency stretcher.
Expressing frustration, Mohammad Abdel-Hadi, the cousin of a deceased woman, noted, “Trump wants to end the Gaza issue. He is in a hurry, and that is clear from this morning.”
Israeli shelling in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza claimed at least four lives, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. In another incident, seven bodies, including a child and three women, were transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, according to an Associated Press journalist present.
Moreover, a strike in Gaza City targeted individuals waiting outside a bakery, resulting in at least six deaths, including three children, as per reports from the civil defense working under the Hamas administration.
Netanyahu Meets Trump Amid Protests
In Jabaliya, dozens of Palestinians participated in a new wave of anti-war protests. Videos circulating online showcased individuals marching and chanting against Hamas, reflecting the growing unrest. Although rare, such demonstrations have surfaced in recent weeks.
Within Israel, discontent over the renewed conflict and its consequences on remaining hostages in Gaza is palpable. Families of hostages, along with those recently freed and their supporters, rallied on Saturday, urging Trump to take action to halt the violence.
On Monday, Netanyahu will engage with Trump for the second time since Trump began his term in January. The discussions will encompass the ongoing war and a newly introduced 17 percent tariff on Israel, a move associated with the fresh policies of the U.S. administration.
“There is a very large queue of leaders seeking economic engagements. This reflects the significant personal and diplomatic bond between the United States and Israel, especially crucial during this time,” Netanyahu asserted during his recent visit to Hungary.
The United States, alongside Egypt and Qatar, is a mediator in the efforts for ceasefire and has expressed backing for Israel’s re-initiated military operations last month.
The Human Cost of War
Since the conflict’s resurgence, hundreds of Palestinians have lost their lives, including 15 medics whose bodies were recovered only a week later. This weekend, the Israeli military retracted its previous account regarding a controversial event that had drawn ire from Red Cross, Red Crescent, and United Nations officials.
The war’s origins trace back to the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. Currently, 59 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza, with 24 presumed alive, as the majority were released during ceasefires or through negotiations.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military actions have resulted in at least 50,695 Palestinian fatalities. The Ministry indicates that over half of the deceased were women and children, while around 115,338 individuals have sustained injuries. Israel claims it has targeted approximately 20,000 militants but has not substantiated these figures with evidence.
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