71 Palestinians killed as Israeli strikes escalate in Gaza

Israeli strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip have escalated, leaving at least 71 Palestinians dead and 251 injured in the past 24 hours. Among the casualties, 37 were reported in Gaza City. According to Anadolu Agency, there are growing fears that Israel is preparing for an even larger offensive on the enclave’s biggest city.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed the attacks on Friday, reporting that two more people, including a child, died from hunger and malnutrition. This raises the total number of famine-related deaths to 273, among them 112 children. The ministry also noted that many remain trapped under rubble or stranded on the streets, but ongoing Israeli strikes and a shortage of equipment are preventing rescue efforts.

An Al Jazeera video report showed an Israeli quadcopter hovering over a school building in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan area before dropping explosives, killing at least 12 Palestinian civilians. The school had been sheltering displaced people in makeshift tents. Meanwhile, a medical source at Al-Ahli Hospital said another person was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Tuffah area.

According to the Ministry of Health, since March 18—when the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement collapsed and the military operation resumed—10,717 people have been killed in Gaza and 45,324 injured. Israeli forces have also been attacking civilians who came to receive humanitarian aid. In the last 24 hours, 24 people were killed and 133 injured in such attacks. Since May 27, these incidents have killed 2,060 people and injured 15,197.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas does not agree to end the war on Israel’s terms, Gaza City will be destroyed. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “The gates of hell will soon open over the heads of Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza.” Katz reiterated that Israel’s ceasefire conditions are the release of all hostages and the complete disarmament of Hamas.

Hamas has stated that it is prepared to release hostages but insists it will not disarm without guarantees for the creation of a Palestinian state.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 62,263 Palestinians and injured 157,365 more. By contrast, the October 7 assault in Israel left 1,139 people dead and over 200 taken hostage.