At Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza on Wednesday, grief enveloped families mourning the casualties of an Israeli airstrike. Prayers were held before the burial of those killed in the latest escalation of violence.
The Israeli military, in coordination with the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency and the air force, announced that it had struck 50 targets in Gaza over the past 24 hours. Efforts toward a ceasefire remained elusive as the conflict persisted.
Relatives of the victims described the devastation. Walid Shaqoura, mourning members of his family, condemned the attack that destroyed their home.
“A family consisting of elderly men, women, children, and individuals with disabilities, including one who had been paralyzed for 30 years, suddenly had their lives destroyed when bombs were dropped on their home without warning,” he said. “This systematic targeting of our people comes as we await relief and an end to this war.”
He added, “For weeks, we have heard talk of calm, but the reality on the ground is entirely different. Every day brings more killings and destruction, with entire neighborhoods wiped out.”
Umm Muhammad al-Khatib, another relative, criticized international inaction and U.S. involvement.
“If they wanted to stop this war, they could have done so long ago. The U.S. has the power, and Arab countries could apply pressure, but instead, they watch as these people die with weapons supplied by the U.S. This is genocide. We pray for peace to come soon.”
The United Nations has announced plans to expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza in the event of a ceasefire. However, uncertainty remains over border access and security conditions.
Previous attempts to broker peace have faltered due to deep-seated disagreements. Hamas has rejected proposals that fail to offer a permanent end to the war, while Israel insists it will not halt its operations until Hamas is dismantled.
