Gaza: Renewed Israeli airstrikes claim dozens of lives amid escalating conflict

At least 34 Palestinians have been killed on Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes targeted refugee tents and homes across the Gaza Strip. Medical sources report that the strikes coincided with Israel’s intensified ground operations in northern Gaza.

In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, six people, including two women and two children, were killed when Israeli warplanes hit two tents sheltering displaced families. In another tragic event, a basketball player succumbed to injuries sustained during an airstrike on his home in the Maghazi refugee camp.

An airstrike near a refugee tent east of Khan Younis claimed three lives and injured several others. Four bodies were also recovered from the rubble of a home in eastern Gaza City after another strike.

In Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, rescuers recovered the bodies of 20 people from a destroyed home following a Monday night airstrike. Witnesses fear that more people remain buried beneath the rubble.

Since launching its offensive in October 2023, Israel has maintained a blockade in northern Gaza, stating its goal to disrupt Hamas forces. However, Palestinians claim this offensive aims to displace residents and occupy the region.

Over 1,800 people have died, food and aid are scarce, and health authorities report nearly 43,400 casualties in Gaza, which now faces near-total devastation.

As Israel’s actions face international scrutiny, the International Court of Justice is reviewing a genocide case related to Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged enclave.