The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened this weekend as Israeli forces conducted multiple strikes across the besieged territory, resulting in at least 32 Palestinian casualties, with women and children comprising a significant portion of the victims. These latest attacks occurred amid growing concerns about dwindling supplies of essential goods following Israel’s month-long blockade of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid into the coastal enclave. The intensification of military operations coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Washington, where he plans to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing conflict and potentially negotiate new ceasefire terms.
As international pressure mounts from humanitarian organizations reporting increasingly desperate conditions on the ground, protesters both within Gaza and Israel have taken to the streets demanding an end to hostilities. The complex and evolving situation continues to impact civilians caught in the crossfire, with families mourning loved ones while simultaneously facing severe shortages of basic necessities nearly two years after the conflict began.
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Gaza Crisis Intensifies: Israeli Strikes Kill 32 Palestinians Amid Diplomatic Efforts
The human toll of the renewed Israeli military campaign in Gaza became starkly evident this weekend as strikes across the territory claimed at least 32 Palestinian lives, including over a dozen women and children, according to local health officials. The devastating overnight attacks targeted multiple locations, with particularly lethal strikes hitting a tent and house in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. This single incident resulted in the deaths of five men, five women, and five children, as reported by medical staff at Nasser Hospital who received the victims’ bodies.
Among those killed was a female journalist, whose mother, Amal Kaskeen, expressed her grief in heartbreaking terms: “My daughter is innocent. She had no involvement, she loved journalism and adored it.” The scale of the human suffering was further illustrated by the arrival of a child under two years old at the hospital, whose small body occupied just one end of an emergency stretcher—a poignant image of innocence lost in a conflict that has stretched on for nearly two years.
The strikes extended beyond Khan Younis, with Israeli shelling claiming at least four lives in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In central Gaza, the bodies of seven people, including three women and a child, were brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, as witnessed by an Associated Press journalist present at the facility. Another strike targeted civilians waiting outside a bakery in Gaza City, killing at least six people, including three children, according to the civil defense authorities operating under the Hamas-run government.
These casualties come at a critical diplomatic juncture as Netanyahu prepares to meet with President Trump in Washington on Monday. The Israeli Prime Minister characterized the upcoming talks as an opportunity to discuss both the ongoing conflict and the new 17% tariff recently imposed on Israel as part of Trump’s broader global trade policies. “There is a very large queue of leaders who want to do this with respect to their economies. I think it reflects the special personal connection and the special connection between the United States and Israel, which is so vital at this time,” Netanyahu remarked while concluding a visit to Hungary.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last month and resumed its air and ground offensive. The military campaign aims to pressure the militant group into accepting new terms for a truce and the release of remaining hostages. However, the simultaneous blocking of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid for over a month has created increasingly desperate conditions in the territory, which is heavily dependent on external assistance. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees issued a stark warning on social media: “Stocks are getting low and the situation is becoming desperate.”
| Location of Strike | Casualties | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Younis (tent and house) | 15 (5 men, 5 women, 5 children) | Included a female journalist |
| Jabaliya refugee camp | At least 4 | Israeli shelling in northern Gaza |
| Deir al-Balah | 7 (3 women, 1 child, 3 others) | Bodies brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital |
| Gaza City (bakery) | At least 6 (3 children, 3 others) | People were waiting outside a bakery |
The conflict has also sparked internal dissent on both sides. In Jabaliya, dozens of Palestinians participated in anti-war protests, marching and chanting against Hamas. While such demonstrations remain relatively rare, they have occurred with increasing frequency in recent weeks, reflecting growing frustration with the continued violence. Meanwhile, in Israel, families of hostages still held in Gaza, along with recently freed captives and their supporters, held rallies on Saturday urging Trump to help secure an end to the fighting.
The war, which began with Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, has exacted an enormous toll. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 50,695 Palestinians have been killed, with more than half being women and children. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures. An additional 115,338 people have been wounded. Israeli authorities claim to have killed approximately 20,000 militants, though they have not provided evidence to support this assertion.
The original Hamas attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Currently, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive following the release of others during previous ceasefires or through other arrangements.
As Netanyahu travels to Washington, the pressure for diplomatic progress is immense. The United States, which has been mediating ceasefire efforts alongside Egypt and Qatar, expressed support for Israel’s resumption of military operations last month. However, the mounting civilian casualties and deteriorating humanitarian conditions have intensified calls from international organizations for a sustainable resolution to the conflict that addresses both security concerns and the urgent humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current humanitarian situation in Gaza following the renewed Israeli offensive?
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached critical levels following Israel’s renewed offensive and month-long blockade of essential supplies. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has issued urgent warnings that “stocks are getting low and the situation is becoming desperate,” highlighting the severe shortages of food, medicine, clean water, and fuel throughout the territory.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, already vulnerable after nearly two years of conflict, face acute hunger with approximately 75% of the population experiencing food insecurity according to recent UN assessments. The blockade has forced most hospitals to operate at minimal capacity, with only emergency services available as medical supplies dwindle. Fuel shortages have severely limited power generation, resulting in most areas receiving only 2-4 hours of electricity daily, which further impacts water purification and sewage treatment facilities. Overcrowding remains a critical issue, with an estimated 1.7 million people internally displaced, many living in makeshift shelters or tents without adequate sanitation.
The combination of population density, limited medical care, and shortages of clean water has created conditions ripe for disease outbreaks, with health officials reporting increased cases of respiratory infections, skin diseases, and gastrointestinal illnesses, particularly among children and elderly populations.
What is the status of the hostage situation and ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas?
Currently, 59 hostages remain in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack, with Israeli intelligence believing 24 are still alive while 35 are presumed deceased. Previous negotiation rounds facilitated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar resulted in temporary ceasefires that allowed for the release of approximately 110 hostages, primarily women, children, and elderly individuals.
The latest breakdown in talks occurred when Israel resumed military operations last month, claiming Hamas was not engaging in good faith negotiations. The current negotiation framework reportedly centers on a phased approach: an initial six-week ceasefire with the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, followed by a more comprehensive agreement. Major sticking points include Hamas’s insistence on guarantees for a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel maintains that it must retain security control over key areas and border crossings to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities.
President Trump’s administration has expressed the desire to broker a resolution, with Secretary of State indicating the US is exploring “creative solutions” to bridge the gaps. Meanwhile, family members of hostages have intensified their public campaigns, organizing demonstrations in Israel and appeals to international leaders, arguing that continued military operations put remaining hostages at greater risk rather than facilitating their release.
