Israeli airstrikes resumed across the Gaza Strip overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least 85 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The strikes targeted multiple areas, including densely populated residential zones and encampments for displaced persons, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military claims the operations were aimed at Hamas operatives, but the high civilian toll has drawn sharp criticism for its indiscriminate nature and disregard for international humanitarian law.
According to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, the overnight bombardment struck various locations, including Khan Younis, Jabalia, and Gaza City. In Khan Younis, two missiles hit tents in the al-Mawasi area, a designated “safe zone” for displaced Palestinians, killing at least 16 people, predominantly women and children, and wounding 23 others, as reported by spokesperson Mahmud Bassal. In Jabalia, two separate attacks on displaced communities resulted in 13 deaths, including seven members of the Asaliya family and six people sheltering in a school. Additionally, shelling in Gaza City claimed two lives, according to Al Jazeera.
Posts on X reported a death toll of over 90 in the past 48 hours, citing Palestinian sources, though these figures could not be independently verified. The Israeli military stated it targeted “about 40 targets” across Gaza in the past day, following Hamas’s rejection of a ceasefire offer, according to Reuters.
The airstrikes have worsened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed and critical infrastructure, including the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City, al-Ahli Arab, previously damaged by Israeli strikes. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported that al-Ahli’s building was “completely destroyed” in an earlier attack, forcing the displacement of patients and staff. The ministry accused Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure under the pretext of combating Hamas, according to BBC.
The United Nations has reported that Israel’s renewed offensive since March 2025 has killed over 1,600 Palestinians, with two-thirds of Gaza either captured or depopulated. Residential buildings and makeshift shelters housing displaced families have been repeatedly targeted, according to Al Jazeera.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim the strikes targeted Hamas operatives planning attacks, with one operation in Gaza City allegedly aimed at a “senior Hamas terrorist,” according to the BBC. However, the IDF has not provided specific evidence to substantiate these claims, and the high civilian death toll raises questions about the proportionality and precision of the attacks.
Israel’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation for their apparent disregard for civilian lives and violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates distinction between combatants and non-combatants. The targeting of densely populated areas, including schools and hospitals, suggests a reckless approach that prioritizes military objectives over civilian safety. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s statement on April 16, 2025, vowing to block humanitarian aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas, further undermines Israel’s commitment to humanitarian principles, as reported by The Guardian. This policy risks collective punishment of Gaza’s population, a practice prohibited under the Geneva Conventions.
The pattern of targeting civilian infrastructure, such as al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and “safe zones” like al-Mawasi, indicates a systemic failure to adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality. The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, with al-Ahli being the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City before its partial destruction, leaves civilians without access to critical medical care, exacerbating the human cost of the conflict.
The resumption of airstrikes follows the collapse of a fragile ceasefire last month, with Hamas rejecting Israel’s latest truce offer, which it deemed insufficient for ending the war, according to Reuters. The escalation coincides with heightened regional tensions, including Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Syria, further destabilizing the region.
International calls for a ceasefire have intensified, but Israel’s actions, including the blockade of humanitarian aid, suggest a strategy aimed at maximizing pressure on Hamas at the expense of civilian lives. The international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable for repeated violations of international law has emboldened its aggressive military tactics, critics argue.
Israel’s overnight airstrikes, killing at least 85 Palestinians, reflect a continuation of a military strategy that prioritizes tactical gains over civilian protection. The targeting of residential areas, schools, and hospitals, coupled with the blockade of humanitarian aid, constitutes a grave breach of international norms. While Israel claims to target Hamas, the disproportionate civilian toll and destruction of critical infrastructure demand urgent scrutiny and accountability. The international community must press for an immediate ceasefire and ensure humanitarian access to avert further catastrophe in Gaza.
