Israeli strikes in Gaza: growing casualties amid renewed offensive

Wednesday 07 May 2025 - 15:12

By: Zahouani Ilham

Israeli strikes in Gaza: growing casualties amid renewed offensive

Israel's military offensive in Gaza has sparked international outcry, particularly following the expansion of its operations in the war-torn territory. Israel’s far-right finance minister recently called for the total destruction of Gaza.

Rescue teams in Gaza reported that 26 individuals were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including 15 martyrs and 10 others wounded. The airstrikes targeted the Al-Karama school, which housed displaced persons in the Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. A previous strike had already claimed 11 lives.

In the southern city of Khan Yunis, an Israeli airstrike on a family home killed eight members of the Al-Qidra family and injured 12 others. The victims ranged in age from two to 54. Footage from Khan Yunis showed wounded children in hospitals while bodies were transported to Nasser Hospital. One witness, Abir Shehab, lamented the loss of her brother, describing the tragedy of their home collapsing while they slept.

Another strike in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed three and wounded eight. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these attacks.

Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a brief ceasefire. Since then, Gaza's health ministry reports that over 2,500 people have been killed, bringing the total death toll of the conflict to more than 52,000. Hamas's surprise attack in October 2023 caused the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. Additionally, Hamas militants have taken 251 hostages, with 58 still held in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Hamas declared that further ceasefire negotiations with Israel were futile, accusing Israel of waging a "hunger war" against Gaza. The United Nations has issued repeated warnings about the looming humanitarian disaster, especially after more than two months of Israeli-imposed aid blockades, exacerbating the risk of famine.