Israeli Forces Kill More Than 70 In Gaza As Airstrikes Target Hospitals And Camps

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit both northern and southern Gaza on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 70 individuals, including nearly two dozen children, as reported by local hospitals and health officials. This occurred a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would not stop Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian region until Hamas is defeated.

In the north of Gaza, approximately 50 people, including 22 children, were killed in the airstrikes around Jabaliya, according to information from hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The bombings took place following Hamas’ release of an Israeli-American hostage on Monday, which some believed might pave the way for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump was visiting Saudi Arabia during a tour of Gulf countries.

Israel’s military did not provide a statement regarding the airstrikes but had urged residents of Jabaliya to evacuate, citing militant infrastructure present in the area, such as rocket launchers. Rescue teams in Jabaliya were seen working to extract children’s bodies from under collapsed concrete slabs using hand tools illuminated by cellphones.

Israel had threatened to intensify its operations in Gaza, with Netanyahu announcing a forthcoming escalation of force to eradicate Hamas. There was optimism that Trump’s Middle East visit could lead to a ceasefire agreement or renewed humanitarian assistance for Gaza, where an Israeli blockade has been ongoing for three months.

The conflict began when Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 individuals in a 2023 incursion into southern Israel. Israel’s retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of over 52,928 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Nearly 3,000 fatalities have occurred since Israel broke a ceasefire on March 18, the ministry reported.

Israel’s offensive has caused extensive damage to Gaza’s urban areas and forced 90% of the population to flee multiple times. Reports indicated that one of the targets hit in an airstrike on a hospital in Khan Younis was Mohammed Sinwar, believed to be Hamas’ top military leader in Gaza. The strike damaged the hospital’s infrastructure, hindering its operations and access for ambulances.

International experts on food security warned that Gaza could face famine if Israel does not lift the blockade and cease its military campaign. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification revealed that almost half a million Palestinians are at risk of starvation, and another million struggle to access sufficient food.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israel’s blockade of aid and called for the reopening of Gaza’s borders to humanitarian convoys. Netanyahu dismissed Macron’s remarks as echoing extremist propaganda.

The UN noted a significant decrease in the number of meals provided by charity kitchens in Gaza due to the blockade, with many kitchens shutting down as supplies dwindle. The World Health Organization reported a shortage of resources to treat malnourished children in the region.

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