GAZA CITY — Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds more, as the military escalates attacks following failed ceasefire negotiations and the continued detention of Israeli hostages by Hamas.
The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in response to Hamas rejecting proposals for a ceasefire and hostage release. On Tuesday, the military also ordered the evacuation of multiple areas in Gaza.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israeli forces launched intense airstrikes across the territory, hitting areas in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least 254 people have been killed in the latest attacks, with many of the victims being children.
Hospitals, already struggling with severe shortages of medical supplies, are now facing an influx of wounded civilians, further overwhelming Gaza’s healthcare system.
Video footage from the scene shows ambulances rushing casualties to overcrowded hospitals, where bodies are piling up on the floors due to a lack of space.
Mohammed Zaqout, the head of Gaza’s hospitals, accused Israel of deliberately blocking medical aid, even during temporary ceasefires.
“Even during the ceasefire, the occupiers did not allow essential medical equipment and supplies to enter Gaza,” Zaqout said. “They have destroyed more than 22 hospitals, and now, fewer than seven hospitals are partially functioning.”
Hamas sources confirmed that Mahmoud Abu Wafa, a senior security official, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an expanded military operation, vowing to intensify strikes against Hamas.
“Israel will use full military force to eliminate Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli officials, through state media, declared that there would be “no mercy” and that military operations would continue until all hostages are freed.
At the United Nations, Israel’s ambassador said that if the Security Council wants the war to end, it must ensure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
