On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes intensified across the Gaza Strip, killing over 100 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. Among the dead were at least 27 individuals sheltering in a school located in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.
The health ministry reported that 14 of the victims were children and five were women. The strike also wounded around 70 others, many critically. Additional strikes in the nearby Shijaiyah neighborhood reportedly killed more than 30 people, with bodies being retrieved from destroyed homes.
The Israeli military claimed the strikes targeted Hamas “command and control centers” and emphasized it had taken measures to limit civilian casualties. However, the attack on the school — a site being used as a shelter for displaced people — was widely condemned.
Hamas labeled the school bombing a “heinous massacre.” This came just a day after a strike on a UN facility killed at least 17 people, also under the claim of targeting Hamas operatives. Eyewitness accounts and images from the scene showed civilians and rescue workers fleeing for safety as the bombardment hit the shelter.
Mass Displacement, Civilian Deaths, and Aid Blockade Deepen Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe Amid War
The renewed offensive was accompanied by Israeli orders for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate to the west and south, foreshadowing ground operations. As a result, thousands of residents, many on foot or using makeshift transport like donkey carts, fled their homes once again.
The UN reported that over 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the collapse of the recent ceasefire. Food, fuel, and humanitarian aid remain severely restricted due to a month-long blockade, drawing accusations of collective punishment and war crimes from rights groups.
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Over 100 in Gaza, Including Children Sheltering in School Amid Escalating OffensiveIsraeli airstrikes continued throughout the day, with overnight raids killing 55 people across various cities. In Khan Younis, a single strike killed nine members of one family, including five children. Later strikes in central Gaza and Gaza City claimed additional lives.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military promised an independent probe into the killing of 15 Palestinian medics and emergency workers during a March 23 operation, where ambulances were reportedly targeted and buried in a mass grave. However, human rights organizations remain skeptical about the transparency and accountability of such investigations.
Netanyahu’s Gaza Strategy Sparks Legal, Ethical, and Global Alarm Amid Worsening Crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a new security corridor across Gaza to isolate Rafah and control access. Israel has already reasserted dominance over strategic zones like the Netzarim corridor, effectively bisecting the region.
Netanyahu further suggested that Israel might facilitate the “voluntary emigration” of Gazans post-war — a proposal Palestinians view as forced expulsion. Human rights experts argue such actions could breach international laws, especially amid the ongoing devastation, which has already killed over 50,000 people and displaced nearly 90% of the population.
Netanyahu’s continued leadership during the Gaza conflict has drawn international scrutiny. On Thursday, he visited Hungary, defying an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC accuses both Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant of using starvation as a weapon and intentionally targeting civilians.
Israel denies these allegations. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants in response, though no independent verification has been provided.