Israeli strikes kill 45 more in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 45 more Palestinians and injured 362 others in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Among the dead were three civilians who had gathered near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) center in search of food and aid.

The latest wave of attacks included intense aerial bombardment on Tuesday, which killed 29 people, and further strikes on Wednesday morning that left 16 dead. Israeli gunfire near a GHF aid distribution site also claimed three lives and wounded 46 others, local health officials said.

Multiple strikes targeted residential areas and refugee camps across the besieged territory. Nine people were killed in a drone attack near the Al-Sanabel refugee camp in Khan Younis, eight were killed in the Shati refugee camp, and two died in a house bombing in Deir al-Balah.

Shaima al-Shayer, a 30-year-old mother living in the Al-Sanabel camp, described the moment of a strike near her tent:
“I was preparing breakfast for my four children when a sudden explosion occurred. Smoke and dust filled the air, and debris hit our tent. Nearby, four children playing outside were injured.”

Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal confirmed that at least 23 more people, including three children and two women, were killed in separate attacks across the enclave on Tuesday.

Since Israel launched its military campaign following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, the total Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached 57,575, with 136,879 wounded, the Health Ministry reports. Of those killed, more than 15,000 were children. At least 750 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to collect food from GHF centers, and nearly 5,000 others were injured.

The ministry notes that women and children account for 56% of all casualties since the beginning of the war.

The United Nations has issued a stark warning over Gaza’s worsening fuel crisis, calling it a “catastrophe in the making.” UN agencies report that critical shortages of fuel are now severely affecting hospitals, water systems, and humanitarian operations.

The BBC reports that over 90% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged. Public infrastructure, including healthcare, sanitation, and water networks, has collapsed, and access to food, medicine, and shelter remains critically limited.

The conflict escalated after Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, the Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in Gaza.

A ceasefire was briefly declared on January 19, 2025, under international pressure, but hostilities resumed on March 18, with renewed Israeli offensives resulting in the deaths of an additional 7,009 Palestinians and injuries to 24,938 others in the past four months.

Israeli officials believe at least 35 hostages remain alive in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that military operations will continue until all hostages are recovered.